Goes back to those days, a cup of coffee witnessed debates between a group of men about whether the current government is performing well or not. Not only that their debate got fodder by masala dosa and cheese omelets. The Families or college students drop in to enjoy a quick bite. This has been the usual scene in any of the over 400 Indian Coffee houses across the country that were like a second home to many for decades.
The Indian Coffee House is much more than just a restaurant chain. Founded as a worker cooperative at a time when India’s coffee house culture was a British monopoly. Even though coffee had been grown by Indians since the 16th century, the idea of coffee houses as they exist today was new at the time. The ‘Indianness’ of this particular chain came from the fact that most coffee houses existing at the time were British-run, and discriminated against locals.
The Coffee Board started the “India Coffee House’ in curly 1940s, but within a few years, several Coffee Houses were closed down due to the fall of the business. The Coffee Board decided to dismiss all the employees. A large number of employees lost their jobs. The workers of the Coffee Board began a movement and compelled the Coffee Board to agree to handover the outlets to the workers who then formed “Indian Coffee Workers’ Co-operatives” and rechristened the network as Indian Coffee House, Communist Gopalan Nambiar took over the leadership and organized societies across India. Several dismissed Coffee Board employees dedicated their life, money, and services to the formation of society. The first such society was formed in Bengaluru in 1957 followed by several in later years. An eleven-member managing committee elected from the employee-governed society.
The society is engaged in pure coffee powder known for its rich aroma at reasonable prices, besides coffee and typical South Indian food being served in the restaurants. Over the years, the society maintained the traditional values of good taste, courteous service, and unmatched quality.
ICH runs 13 workers cooperatives, which are governed by a managing committee, and elected by employees; the national level federation helps them to unite under one umbrella. Positioning in the market is done by the traditional atmosphere, healthy food, affordable price, courteous services, and allowing refreshment places as meeting places for the customers. Based on research conducted by The Nielsen Company, a leading research organization in India, Indian Coffee House was honored with CNBC Awaaz Consumer Awards 2008 as the most preferred consumer brand in India. The research was carried out across 17 product categories among 10,000 respondents to decide on the most preferred consumer brand.
Penaja.
Student of post-graduation.
Mangalore university.