Brands
Lavazza exits coffee shop business
MUMBAI: In an effort to realign and restructure its businesses globally, Turin-based, Lavazza, has announced its decision to exit from the coffee shop business in India.
Lavazza has decided to lay greater focus on its core business, which is Coffee.
Lavazza, which bought the café brand Barista in 2007, has sold the coffee shop chain with over 190 cafés to Carnation Hospitality, a company owned by Rollatainers. Coffee shops will keep providing Lavazza Coffee thanks to a long-term supply agreement between Fresh & Honest Café (FHCL) and Barista.
Lavazza CEO Antonio Baravalle said, “Changes in the market required us to relook at our commercial penetration methods and as a result, Lavazza has decided to concentrate on coffee in the region. In fact, India continues to remain an extremely important market to Lavazza’s international operations and it is strategic to the brand’s overall growth initiatives across the world. Furthermore, we will continue to develop our presence in the country through the AFH business and through the investments in the Sri City plant, our first and only production facility outside of Italy.”
In the deal, Lavazza has been assisted by Rothschild, as financial advisor, and Desai & Diwanji, as legal advisor.
Lavazza, established in Turin in 1895, has been owned by the family of the same name for four generations. The world’s seventh ranking coffee roaster, Lavazza is the retail market leader in Italy with a market share by value of over 47 per cent as per Nielsen and sales of EUR 1,340 million as of 31 December 2013. The company has five production sites, four in Italy and one abroad, and operates through associated companies and distributors in more than 90 countries. Lavazza exports 46 per cent of its production today.
Brands
Info Edge reshuffles senior roles, Ambrish Singh to 99acres, Bhisham Dhingra to lead Shiksha strategy
Leadership changes at Shiksha and 99acres aim to drive sharper growth focus
MUMBAI: Info Edge (India) Limited has approved an internal reorganisation of its education and real estate verticals, setting the stage for leadership changes aimed at sharpening execution and accelerating growth. The move, cleared by the board on April 14 through a circular resolution, will come into effect from May 1, 2026.
The restructuring impacts the company’s Shiksha and 99acres businesses, two key pillars in its portfolio, and involves role changes for senior management personnel. As part of the reshuffle, Ambrish Kumar Singh, previously executive vice president and head of sales and customer delivery for Shiksha, has been redesignated as executive vice president and head of sales and sales enablement at 99acres. A long-time company leader since 2003, Singh is expected to focus on boosting business performance, strengthening client relationships and building high-performing teams in his new role.
Meanwhile, Bhisham Dhingra, who led sales and customer delivery at 99acres, will now take on an expanded mandate as head of sales, strategy and client delivery for Shiksha. With over two decades of experience across global and Indian organisations, Dhingra will spearhead growth strategy, corporate sales and client engagement for the domestic education vertical.
Both executives will continue as senior management personnel, albeit with revised responsibilities aligned to the company’s broader restructuring goals.
Info Edge said the changes are part of ongoing efforts to leverage leadership expertise across business lines and improve operational effectiveness. The company added that the reshuffle is designed to drive stronger outcomes by aligning talent with evolving business priorities.
As Info Edge continues to fine-tune its structure, the latest leadership moves suggest a clear intent to keep its core platforms nimble, competitive and ready for the next phase of growth.
