AN AAMIR KHAN BLOCKBUSTER RELEASING ON JUNE 08

First Ever Coffee Table Book On Aamir Khan

Mumbai: Not merely a perfectionist or superstar, as Aamir Khan is wont to be tagged by his fans, he is also one of India’s most versatile actors. With a fresh approach and profound commitment to roles, both off screen and on it, he went on to reinvent the concept of stardom in Bollywood. And when he hosted the television show, ‘Satyamev Jayate’, so penetrative was his presentation that his identity transformed into that of an activist.

Inarguably, Aamir is one of the most colorful personalities of India. And all the myriad hues, captured in technicolour, will be released on June 08 at Mumbai in the form of a coffee table book titled, Aamir Khan – Actor, Activist, Achiever. The first ever coffee table book on the superstar, this unique pictorial biography authored by ace lensman, Pradeep Chandra, contains about two hundred pictures and rare insights by writers like Rauf Ahmed, Mayank Shekhar, Vikas Sinha and others, with the foreword composed by Rajat Sharma.

“I won’t call this a biography in the strict sense of the term. But the book does try to look into his soul. Besides covering his broad career path and major incidents in personal life, I have also included many little known anecdotes of the star. While many of us freely use terms like ‘calculated’ and ‘methodical’ to describe Aamir, by his own admission, most of his crucial decisions have been taken impulsively – be it his marriage, decision to quit studies or become an actor. They all were split second decisions,” says Chandra.

The book is the author’s tribute to the superstar and the man behind it. As a photographer who has captured Aamir from his early days in cinema, Chandra has included exquisite stills, paintings, sketches and unforgettable images that encapsulate Aamir’s intensity and dedication to his craft. Chandra follows Aamir’s career seeking to understand the twists and turns, and the people and places whose influence was paramount in shaping his journey.

The book is third in part of the tribute series the earlier two being, “AB The Legend – A Photographer’s Tribute” and “M.F.Husain – A Pictorial Tribute.” The former was published by Rupa Publications in 2006, while the latter was published by Niyogi Books in 2013.

Published by Niyogi Books, Aamir Khan Actor Activist Achiever will be available for sale at Rs. 1500/- from June 09 onwards at leading book stores and online outlets.

Pradeep Chandra has been associated with Bombay Times, Indian Express, Illustrated Weekly & other prominent publications. He has done several exhibitions like Haveli Dreams, (based on Shekhawati), Kashmiri Pandits, and Britain (to commemorate 50 Years of Indian Independence) and has been a part of various art camps as well.He is the author of the coffee table book on Amitabh Bachchan titled “AB The Legend – A Photographer’s Tribute” and “M F Husain – A Pictorial Tribute”.

STATE BUDGET GIVES PARTIAL TAX RELIEF TO HOTEL INDUSTRY

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed Maharashtra Government’s state budget that has announced partial tax relief to the industry. The hotel industry had been advocating a revision in the Luxury tax for the last few years and has hailed its revision. The new budget proposes exemption of Luxury tax up to Rs 1,000, 4% up to Rs 1,500 and 10% exceeding Rs 1,500. Also, it offers concession in luxury tax for new hotels or expansion of existing ones in B and C zone cities like Thane, Navi Mumbai and Nashik.

Mr. D.S. Advani, President, HRAWI while welcoming the new move says, “the hotel industry had been approaching the state Government at various levels for a revision in the Luxury Tax. The current luxury tax structure was not feasible in today’s scenario and would have negatively impacted tourism growth.”

“As per the previous tax structure, any hotel room with a tariff of above Rs.750/- and up to Rs. 1199/- was taxed at 4% and those above Rs.1200/- was at 10%. We had been requesting for an increase in the threshold limits. Since, a mere Rs.750/- does not justify being called luxury in today’s scenario, HRAWI had proposed that the limit be raised to at least Rs.2000/-. However, it gives us hope that in the near future it will be further rationalized,” says Mr. Advani.

The state budget has also reduced the late fee on VAT return from Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 2000/- for delay of up to one month and the turnover limit for registration under VAT has been increased from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs.

“This is a progressive step adopted by the Government. Small restaurants and hotels will benefit from this move,” says Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice-President, HRAWI. “But there is a lot more that is needed to give support to the ailing hotel and tourism related industries. It was accorded industry status over a decade ago however the accompanying benefits in subsidies were never passed on to us. For instance, electricity duty charged to Hotels and Restaurants is at the commercial rate of 13% as against the rate of 6% levied on industrial units. Power and water are the major cost of operation in hotels and restaurants. If the Government gives us the due benefits, not only will the hospitality industry grow, but tourism in Maharashtra will also see a big surge,” adds Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice-President, HRAWI.

One of the sops provisioned in the current budget include the increase in the turnover limit for filing audit report from Rs. 60 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore. “This increase in the threshold limit will certainly bring major administrative relief for businesses such as restaurants but would not bring any monetary benefits,” says Mr. Pradeep Shetty, Honorary Secretary, HRAWI.

“The state of Maharashtra is evenly poised to give a run for its money to power states like Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala. It has all the natural resources. All that is needed is a little support from the Government. Today, due to insufficient infrastructure and high taxes, Maharashtra does not enjoy the same kind of tourist preference as some of the other states. But with positive Government measures we are sure that Maharashtra will become one of the highest ranked states for tourism,” concludes Mr. Kamlesh Barot, immediate past President, HRAWI.

HOSPITALITY SECTOR PIN HOPES ON ‘GOAN’ TOURISM MINISTER

Goa: Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Shripad Naik as the new Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) and the fifteenth Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.

The change in Government and the appointment of Minister from the tourism centric state of Goa have raised hopes of the beleaguered hospitality sector, especially of Western India. “The new government has been highlighting the importance of tourism and hospitality as a key driver of the nation’s economical growth. We expect it to push major pro-hospitality initiatives in the months to come. To begin with, the Government can consider revision in the current tax structure, diesel subsidies for power generation and incentives for investing in waste management and re-cycling of waste,” says Mr. Charles Bonifacio, Chairman, Goa sub-committee, HRAWI.

In its poll manifesto, BJP had identified tourism as a major foreign exchange earner that also has potential to create millions of jobs every year. The hospitality industry accounts for approximately 8.8% of total employment and is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP.

“Tourism is the back bone of Goa’s economy, employing one third of its population and contributing 50% of the total collected revenues. But it is now facing challenges from tourism promoted by Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and other new destinations. Many nations offer incentives in the form of lower taxation and lower interest rates to boost tourism. We, in India, too would need such assistance to remain competitive and lowering the cost of the product to the end consumer,” adds Mr. Bonifacio. “Currently entry visa for India from the UK is one of the most expensive in the world and is restricting tourism revenue from UK which is our bane. The government should rectify this at the earliest.”

“Some of the other problems include restrictions on flying in and out of Goa. If you fly to Goa on a charter flight then you can’t fly home on a direct schedule service, it has to go via Delhi or Mumbai. Also, if you fly to Goa on a charter flight then you can’t fly home on another carrier’s charter flight. This policy is arbitrary and is a hassle for tourists who come here to unwind and relax,” says Mr. Bonifacio.

  

In its manifesto the Governing party had proposed to initiate a mission to create 50 tourist circuits that are affordable and built around themes of archaeological and heritage; cultural and spiritual; Himalayan; desert; coastal; and, medical (Ayurveda and modern medicine) among others. These are expected to lead to the creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and help boost revenue generation. The manifesto further sought to introduce specialized courses in tourism for capacity development, besides according due priority to the safety and security of tourists.

“Hospitality and tourism go hand in hand.  Growth of tourism is integral to the growth of hospitality. The new tourism minister is familiar with tourism and is fully aware of its potential. We from the hotel industry have our hopes pinned on this Government to lead us to newer heights,” concludes Mr. Bonifacio.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 64 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories like The Taj, Trident, Hyatt, J.W. Marriott and The Leela who are some of the prominent members of our Association. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.

HRAWI PIN HOPES ON NEW GOVERNMENT

Mumbai: Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Shripad Naik as the new Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), besides congratulating the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for the massive success at the elections.

Following the change in the government, the hospitality industry hopes for major pro-hospitality initiatives in the months to come. The hotel industry has been gripped by several harsh financial burdens brought about by both the central and state governments that include Service Tax – charged by the Central Government, Luxury Tax – charged by the State, Value Added Tax (VAT) – on Food and Beverage, Excise Duty – on Beverages and Octroi Duty - on items imported into the State, among others.

“This is one of the few occasions in the history of independent India that a prime minister has emphasized the importance of tourism and hospitality as a key component in the growth of economy. In the poll manifesto the elected Government has emphasized on the role tourism as a foreign exchange earner and its ability to create millions of jobs every year. The hospitality industry alone accounts for approximately 8.8% of total employment and is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. With the right kind of vision and leadership, tourism can flourish in the state as much as in the country,” says Mr. D.S. Advani, President, HRAWI while welcoming the new Government.

As per the manifesto tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings.

“Hospitality and tourism industry go hand in hand.  Growth of tourism is integral to the growth of hospitality industry. We appeal to the new government, which is fully aware of this potential, to simplify the tax regime and make licensing processes easy and transparent,” adds Mr. Advani.

In its manifesto the new government had underscored the need for a clear growth plan and plans to initiate a mission to create 50 tourist circuits that are affordable and built around themes like Archaeological and Heritage; Cultural and Spiritual; Himalayan; Desert; Coastal; and, Medical (Ayurveda and Modern Medicine), among others. These are expected to lead to the creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and help boost revenue generation. The manifesto further sought to introduce specialized courses in tourism for capacity development, besides according due priority to the safety and security of tourists.

“With the new government recognizing and accepting the status of this sector, we from the hotel industry are hopeful about development and growth. In the last few years, the hospitality sector had been neglected and burdened with high taxation and unfriendly policies,” says Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice-President, HRAWI. “For instance in Maharashtra, electricity duty charged to Hotels and Restaurants is at the commercial rate of 13% as against the rate of 6% levied on industrial units. Power and water are the major cost of operation in hotels and restaurants. If the Government gives us the due benefits, not only will the hospitality industry grow, but tourism in Maharashtra will also see a big surge,” adds Mr. Kohli.

“The states of Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala and more recently Gujarat and MP, are considered to be tourist havens not because they are more beautiful than Maharashtra but because these Governments proactively promote tourism, allocate necessary funds and legislate tourism friendly policies. In our state, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) as well as domestic tourists have decreased steeply in the last few years and we know that this new government (that has tasted the fruits of Tourism promotion in Gujarat), will take necessary steps to change this trend for all round betterment, before the damage becomes irreparable,” says Mr. Kamlesh Barot, immediate past President, HRAWI.

 About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 64 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories like The Taj, Trident, Hyatt, J.W. Marriott and The Leela who are some of the prominent members of our Association. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.

PREMIUM BRANDED FRUITS INTRODUCED IN MUMBAI

Mumbai: greencart.in, a leading online portal specializing in fresh farm produce and delectable gourmet foods, has announced its plans of launching a fresh fruits brand. Introduced initially in Mumbai, under the brand name of ‘Greencart’, the products will be available at www.greencart.in and will gradually also be made available at select retail outlets across the city. With one of the widest ranges of domestic and imported produce, greencart.in will look at creating uniform consumer experiences that assures freshness, health and hygiene.

“The fresh fruit and vegetable market in India, currently estimated at $20 billion, is largely dominated by the unorganized segment and lacks any kind of standardization. So, unlike a branded noodle or salt that comes with a printed MRP and consistent quality, fresh fruits lack grading and are often sold at varying prices,” explains Mr. Rajiv Tevtiya, Executive Director & CEO.

“A brand, typically, offers consistency, standardization, assurance of quality and promise of fulfillment. Greencart fruits will have all of these and more. The produce, coming in world-class packaging, will lay strong emphasis on grading. This will not only help customers attach a value to their purchases but also differentiate between export, premium and standard graded fruits. Moreover, fruits and vegetables branded as Greencart will come with an adulteration-free assurance,” he says.

Branded mangoes launched by greencart.in this season had evoked a tremendous response. “This season quality Alphonso mangoes were in short supply. The Alphonsos need a stroke of heat for them to mature properly. The weather affected much of the crops and resulted in a drop in quality. While mangoes are available in the market, quality Alphonsos were in short supply. To overcome the shortage, many retailers resorted to selling below par fruits or Karnataka mangoes as Alphonsos,” adds Mr. Tevtiya.

“Our mangoes differed from those available at local vendors. Besides being retailed in a neat cardboard box, they are hand graded for standardization and naturally ripened at Government approved ripening chambers. Natural ripening is a long and intensive process that incurs substantial costs. So most vendors resort to ripening the mangoes artificially by using a banned toxic powder called Calcium Carbide, which are known to cause severe health damages. Our mangoes come with a carbide free guarantee. All these factors went on to make our mangoes one of the best sellers in the city.”

Managed by a team of qualified specialists well versed in agriculture, greencart.in has been able to develop an efficient and cost conserving procurement system. By forming extensive backward linkages, it has created a wide network of farmers who specialize in certain crops and adopt techniques that involve minimum use of fertilizers. “Greencart implements a zero stock policy wherein products are packed and carted off as soon as they are procured from the farmers. Except in rare circumstances, we store the produce in warehouses. By offering farm fresh fruits we will be bringing back the concept of consuming fresh, a concept that has been long forgotten,” concludes Mr. Tevatiya.

About Greencart:

Greencart.in is a Mumbai based online portal specializing in fresh produce and gourmet food. It had recently secured US $ 1.5 million in its first round of funding. It currently offers more than 1500 products in over thirty categories. Its fresh range is one of the most extensive in the city and is currently unmatched by any online or brick and mortar store. The full range of products can be viewed at www.greencart.in.  The products are currently delivered across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane and will soon be available in other parts.

DLECTA FOODS LAUNCHES D’LECTA CAFÉ

Mumbai: Dlecta Foods Pvt. Ltd., a leading name in the Food & Beverages sector has launched D’lecta Café as part of its ongoing expansion drive. Under this vertical, Dlecta Foods will make available everything related to tea and coffee under one roof. The entire solution will comprise of an attractive looking D’lecta branded thermopot, three varieties of premium tea, coffee sachets, coffee premix, liquid dairy creamers and consumables like sugar sticks, paper cups, paper napkins and stirrers. The tea and coffee consumables along with the thermopot will come in compactly designed trays that will store everything in specially created slots.

“Our hot beverage solutions come in two sizes. The larger one serves up to fifty beverages in one filling while the smaller one serves up to six cups.  These are visually attractive and efficient performers. A cup of tea or coffee can be made in less than half a minute giving a much superior taste. These are ideally suited for offices, hotels and homes,” says Mr. Deepak Jain, Founder & Managing Director, Dlecta Foods Pvt Ltd. The hot beverage solutions have been designed and developed by an internal team at Dlecta Foods. Developed for catering to varied users, the products have been custom designed in 2 different variants. The one that serves up to 50 beverages per refill is branded as the 'Tea Station' and is more suitable for a small to medium offices. The other variant, the 'Welcome Tray', serves up to 6 cups and is a more decorated ensemble. It is ideal for homes, small offices and hotel rooms.

The company has recently announced plans of scaling up its presence in the consumer segment and is launching a slew of new products over the next twelve months. D’lecta Café will add value and work as an extension to the well established dairy business.

“Indians are compulsive tea drinkers. Whether at home or office, they are continuously consuming tea or coffee. But the problem has been that in most offices coffee vending machines are used to make tea or coffee. These beverages taste very bad, are unhygienic and cannot be customized for sweetness, strength or milk. Those who are conscious of quality will opt for D’lecta Café,” adds Mr. Jain.

“Another trend observed in this country is the rampant use of milk powder in tea and coffee. Most milk powders have high quantity of sugar and less of milk. The sugar component not only is unhealthy, especially to diabetics, but also interferes with the taste of tea and coffee. As a substitute to milk powder we have introduced D’lecta Milke. These are 10 gram serving of evaporated milk and are ideally suited for one cup of tea or coffee. Made from pure cow milk D’lecta Milke has no sugar content and comes in aseptic packaging making it simpler to use,” says Mr. Jain.

Milke creamer is processed at the company’s fully owned and operated state-of-the-art plant at Raigad, Maharashtra. One of the most technologically advanced plants in the whole of South Asia, it works as a dairy processing and packaging unit for an array of products.

“D’lecta Café is going to revolutionize beverage consuming pattern in India. It will offer fresh, healthy, and convenient option to tea and coffee aficionados. D’lecta Café houses all beverage essentials including popular flavors in tea and coffee like the green tea and masala tea besides the classic tea. In coffee we have the finest Arabica flavor to satisfy even the most discerning taste buds,” concludes Mr. Devendra Garg, Executive Director.

About Dlecta Foods Private Limited:

Dlecta Foods Private Limited, formerly known as Devashree Foods Pvt Ltd, commenced operations in 2001 primarily as a marketing company. As the sole marketer and distributor of Dynamix Cow Ghee, D’lecta not only established the Dynamix brand, but also went on to create a market for Cow Ghee in India. Till its introduction, the consumer ghee market was dominated by buffalo ghee.

Since then Dlecta has introduced a slew of products and services that include food ingredients with special focus on dairy, bakery, confectionary and nutrition. It comprehensively covers the needs of any HORECA, offering from a range of top quality value products for the industry and a small range of consumer products including cheese, ghee, UHT milk, dairy creamers and even vending solutions.

FRESH FRUITS – HEALTHY GIFTING FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Mumbai: With Mother’s Day right around the corner, greencart.in, a Mumbai based online portal for fresh produce and delectable gourmet, has introduced special gifting solutions for the occasion. To a mother from mother-nature herself, greencart.in has packed an assortment of fresh fruits in nine different hand-made gift boxes to choose from. So, for someone who is looking to gift their mother something special that is not picked from a next door novelty or gift shop, this will be just the thing they are looking for. Without the need to emphasize, fruits are natural, healthy and will compliment the child’s love for his or her mother. Moreover, fruits available at greencart.in are guaranteed for freshness and are great value for money.

The gifting options available online at www.greencart.in are priced in the range of Rs.1390/- to Rs.2490/- and will be delivered anywhere in Mumbai. Some of the gifting solutions also include gourmet delicacies in addition to its range of fruits. The month of May is also a haven for the king of fruits – mangoes, and so one will also have the choice of placing orders exclusively for the richest mangoes of them all, the Devgad and the Ratnagiri Alphonsos.

Greencart.in wishes everyone a happy Mother’s Day J

About Greencart:

Greencart.in is a Mumbai based online portal specializing in fresh produce and gourmet food. It had recently secured US $ 1.5 million in its first round of funding. It currently offers more than 1500 products in over thirty categories. Its fresh range is one of the most extensive in the city and is currently unmatched by any online or brick and mortar store. The full range of products can be viewed at www.greencart.in.  The products are currently delivered across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane and will soon be available in other parts.