Latest news with #HarshitaAttaluri
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
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.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bevco set to introduce QR code-based tracking of bottles
KOCHI: Starting June, the Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd (Bevco) will implement a QR code-based track-and-trace system for all liquor bottles it sells in the state. Bevco MD Harshita Attaluri explained that the QR-code system will enable complete tracking of liquor bottles, right from the stage of production. 'Around 80% of liquor sold in Kerala is bottled within the state and must comply with QR-code labelling by May 5,' she said. 'For the remaining 20%, comprising liquor bottled in other states and foreign liquor, Bevco will affix QR codes, ensuring all bottles have track-and-trace labels before June 1.' This initiative, according to Bevco sources, will simplify the work of enforcement agencies in tackling counterfeit products and duty evasion. Moreover, over the past few years, the organisation has significantly digitised its operations, achieving seamless forward and backward integration of liquor supplies and consumption. A key innovation is its scientific inventory management system, which generates supply orders based on customer demand and consumption patterns. This automated system tracks customer purchases, shop and warehouse inventory levels, and computes supply orders, minimising human intervention and reducing the risk of malpractices or corruption. Bevco, the state's sole liquor retailer, plans to expand its presence to 300 outlets by the end of the current fiscal year. This will include 14 super-premium outlets. It currently operates 278 outlets, with 155 offering self-service or premium counter facilities. 'We will refurbish or relocate outlets that are not customer-friendly or easily accessible,' said the official. Additionally, Bevco plans to revamp the packaging of its best-selling 'Jawan' rum, including the label and cap design. The corporation intends to launch a premium version of Jawan, to be produced at its two distilleries in Pathanamthitta. 'We're currently automating at least one of our 14 production lines, which will require infrastructure renovation. Notably, ours might be the only plant in the state with manual lines,' she said. Furthermore, the state-run company plans to launch its own brandy brand from the Malabar Distillery (MDL) in Chittoor, expanding its product portfolio. The state's alcoholic beverage sales reached Rs 19,730.66 crore in 2024-25, up from Rs 19,069.27 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.5%. Meanwhile, the contribution to the state exchequer for the last fiscal stood at Rs 17,209.97 crore, compared with Rs 16,613.16 crore in the previous fiscal.
