Brands
Percol brews a fresh chapter in India with CCL’s premium coffee play
MUMBAI: Espresso yourself, India your coffee upgrade has just arrived. In a strategic sip forward, CCL Products (India) Ltd. has launched Percol, the iconic British coffee brand, in the Indian market. Known for its ethical sourcing, premium blends, and sustainability-first approach, Percol’s India debut follows its acquisition by CCL in 2023.
Founded in 1987 by Brian Chapman, Percol was the UK’s first coffee brand to bag Fairtrade certification, long before “conscious consumerism” became a buzzword. Ironically, CCL had been quietly brewing Percol’s instant coffee blends for the UK market for years. So when the brand went up for sale, CCL didn’t just see a business opportunity, it recognised a chance to bring home a flavourful legacy it helped craft.
Now officially under CCL’s belt, Percol is stepping onto Indian shelves with three sophisticated freeze-dried instant blends Intenzo, Da Essenza, and Espresso Noir. Crafted with beans sourced from Colombia, Vietnam, and other global hotspots, each 100g jar promises a deep, complex cup for a discerning audience used to swirling, sipping, and savouring.
“The Indian coffee landscape is evolving rapidly,” said CCL Products (India) Ltd CEO Praveen Jaipuriar. “Percol represents not just premium coffee, but a philosophy that resonates with today’s nuanced consumer, who is particular about the sophistication, depth and value of the products they consume.”
That philosophy also reflects in the packaging think reusable glass jars, metal caps, and matte-finished boxes with embossing and spot-UV flourishes. It’s where aesthetic meets ethic: no plastic, no compromise.
Targeted first at Tier-1 cities in North and West India, Percol’s blends are now available on major e-commerce platforms and select supermarkets. And while it’s starting as instant coffee, this is anything but a quick fix, it’s a carefully brewed invitation to elevate the at-home coffee ritual.
With Percol, CCL isn’t just expanding its portfolio, it’s stirring up India’s premium coffee scene, one conscious cup at a time.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
