Latest news with #Bevco
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala beer sales losing fizz, decline 8.6 per cent in two years
KOCHI: Kerala, it seems, is no longer looking to beat the heat with a chilled bottle of beer! Over the 2023-25 period, consumption of the beverage in the state declined by a sharp 8.6%, or nearly 10 lakh cases. This downturn underscores Kerala's enduring preference for hard liquor, a characteristic of its traditionally brown spirits market that holds firm even during record-breaking heat, as data from the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) confirms. Bevco managing director Harshita Attaluri told TNIE that beer consumption has been on the decline over the past two years, and she attributed the slump to public preference. As per the Beverages corporation's data, beer sales slumped from 112 lakh cases -- both wholesale (to bars) and retail (Bevco outlets) — in 2022-23 fiscal to 102.39 lakh cases in 2024-25. Meanwhile, consumption of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) through the wholesale and retail routes surged by 9.74 lakh cases in the two-year period to 229.12 lakh cases. In contrast, beer sales increased year-on-year by 9% nationally during 2024-25, according to Brewers Association of India (BAI), the apex body of the Indian beer industry, representing India's leading beer manufacturers.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Warehouse fire: Loss estimated between 5cr and 10cr
Kottayam: Excise minister M B Rajesh on Wednesday said a comprehensive and serious probe will be conducted into the fire that broke out in the beverage outlet and warehouse in Pulikkeezhu near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta fire caused a loss estimated between Rs 5 crore and Rs 10 crore to the Kerala State Beverages (M&M) Corporation Ltd (Bevco), its managing director Harshita Attaluri said on Wednesday. Around 45,000 cases of liquor were destroyed in the blaze, she added. The minister said steps will be taken to resume the functioning of the warehouse soon and added that the fire was unexpected and a matter of utmost seriousness. He also mentioned that a high-level meeting will be held to formulate a standard operating procedure. Safety arrangements will be strengthened in all shops and warehouses. A fire audit will be made compulsory, the minister minister was accompanied by Mathew T Thomas MLA and district deputy excise commissioner K R fire broke out on Tuesday night at the outlet and warehouse. The liquor to be supplied in Alappuzha, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts was stored in the building that was part of the sugar factory in Pulikkeezhu. Officials from the beverages corporation, excise and police examined the place. tnn
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Fire engulfs Bevco warehouse in Tiruvalla
PATHANAMTHITTA: A massive fire broke out at the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) warehouse and an adjacent office in Pulikeezhu in Tiruvalla on Tuesday night, destroying liquor worth several lakhs of rupees. Officials said the fire, which erupted around 8.15pm, has gutted a significant portion of the warehouse. According to residents, there were some welding works going on in a building in the area. Some of them alleged that a spark from these works can be the reason behind the fire. 'As the spirit was stored in the bottles, the fire intensified,' a local resident the fire force officials did not respond to this. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Seven fire departments were deployed at the site to control the blaze. Despite relentless efforts for over an hour, the fire could not be brought under control, and a large section of the facility was reduced to ashes. According to initial reports, due to the fire, small explosions occurred with the burning of liquor bottles. Near to the godown, there is a distillery producing Jawan brand liquor. A senior fire department official confirmed that a portion of the godown was destroyed. 'An investigation into the cause will follow once the fire is fully extinguished,' the official said. The incident is likely to cause significant financial loss for Bevco and raise concerns about the safety measures at its warehouses. The authorities are expected to assess the extent of the damage and initiate a detailed inquiry into the incident.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- The Hindu
Fire engulfs Bevco warehouse in Thiruvalla, liquor worth crores of rupees destroyed
A massive fire broke out at the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) warehouse in Pulikeezh on Tuesday night, destroying liquor worth crores of rupees. Officials said the fire, which broke out around 8.15 p.m., gutted a significant portion of the warehouse. Seven fire engines were deployed to the site to control the blaze. Despite relentless efforts for over an hour, the fire could not be brought under control and a large section of the facility was reduced to ashes. The fire caused small explosions with the burning of liquor bottles. A distillery producing Jawan brand liquor is situated close by. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. 'An investigation into the cause will follow once the fire is fully extinguished,' said an official. Authorities are expected to assess the extent of the damage and initiate a detailed inquiry into the incident. Firefighting operations continued at the site till late into the night
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala: Amid protests, Bevco launches trial run of shift system for staff in outlets
KOTTAYAM: Amid strong protests from trade unions, including the prominent CITU-led union, the Bevco has initiated a trial run for the implementation of a shift work system for the employees in its outlets. The shift work has been introduced in its Piravom and Kanhangad outlets for the first time, with plans to expand it to more shops soon. Under the existing work pattern, the working hours of outlet employees are from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm, with employees being paid an additional allowance for extra duty of four hours from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm. However, in the trial run started at Piravom and Kanhangad, there are four shifts - 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, 1.30 pm to 9.30 pm, and 12 pm to 8 pm as well as a break shift from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm (4 hours) and 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm (4 hours). In the break shift, the same employees have to work both four-hour shifts. The trial run plan also insists that the shop in-charge and shop assistant should work for 12 hours from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm and are eligible for additional allowances. Harshita Attaluri, CMD of Bevco, said that the primary goal of implementing the shift system is to alleviate the burden of extended 12-hour duties for employees, thereby fostering a more relaxed and productive work environment at Bevco outlets. 'The Bevco employees work under difficult circumstances with 12-hour shifts and they have to work even on Sundays. This leaves them with little time to spend with their families or attend to personal needs. Additionally, with day-care centres and play schools closing by 5 pm, their children have nowhere to go, causing a lot of hardship for many people. It is in this situation that we have started the shift system on a pilot basis in two outlets,' she said.
