How Narasu’s built an iconic coffee brand in TN; Financial literacy and women's agency
Narasu’s is a household name in Tamil Nadu. As it celebrates its centenary, the company is ready for its next phase of growth. Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, reflects on ambition, motherhood, and the leadership lessons that continue to shape her journey.
Hello,
Businesses want more from AI.
The experimentation phase is over, and enterprises are demanding measurable returns from AI. In keeping with this expectation, tech giant Microsoft has launched Microsoft Frontier Company, at an investment of $2.5 billion. The initiative aims to help businesses integrate AI into everyday operations and generate tangible outcomes.
Meanwhile, HCLTech has bagged a big AI deal.
The Indian IT services company has won a $1.14 billion contract with a major European firm. The deal will see HCLTech transform the client’s global digital workplace and enterprise networks using an AI-driven operating model.
In other news, Japan has emerged as the largest contributor to India’s GCC ecosystem in Asia Pacific with over 100 centres, says a report by Deloitte. These centres are rapidly evolving into strategic hubs for engineering, digital transformation, and product innovation, across areas such as AI, embedded systems, cloud, advanced analytics, and digital manufacturing.
Lastly, drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace and precision engineering company Micron Instruments are partnering to jointly develop the next-generation of unmanned defence systems. The collaboration aligns with the wider push by India to strengthen its domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and reduce dependence on imports.
ICYMI: ‘Soccer’ in place of ‘football’ and ‘fall’ instead of ‘autumn’—how America reinvented the English language with new words and phrases, while creating its own cultural identity.
In today’s newsletter, we will talk about
- How Narasu’s built an iconic coffee brand in TN
- Financial literacy and women's agency
Here’s your trivia for today: What is the name of McDonald’s clown mascot?
In Depth
How Narasu’s built an iconic coffee brand in TN
Salem-based Narasu’s, known for its pure filter coffee powder, took bold bets with chicory blends and instant coffee at a time when not many gave it a chance. Today, Narasu’s is a household name in Tamil Nadu. As it celebrates its centenary, the company is ready for its next phase of growth.
100 years is a monumental milestone in a company’s lifetime. But Narasu’s is not resting on its laurels as it sets its sights on more.
What’s brewing?
- Narasu’s has a dominant market share of 40% in the roasted-and-ground coffee segment in Tamil Nadu. It is profit making and growing incrementally in revenue. Its turnover for FY25-26 was Rs 641 crore.
- “If you look at our journey, you’ll see we are growing stage by stage. We have just expanded outside Tamil Nadu. Our exports already cover many countries. Our aim is to give our branded products throughout the world. We are continuously making improvements to give better quality, taste and service,” says P Sivanantham, Chairman, Narasu’s, reiterating the importance of steady growth as opposed to growth at all costs.
- After creating a significant footprint in Tamil Nadu, the brand is planning to expand its distribution and retail presence in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala in the coming years. Thereafter, it will look at the markets of Maharashtra, Odisha and Delhi. In the next five years, the company aims to reach a revenue of Rs 1,000 crore.
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Interview
Financial literacy and women's agency
Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, reflects on ambition, motherhood, and the leadership lessons that continue to shape her journey. She also talks about building long-term wealth and why women must take ownership of their financial decisions.
Key takeaways:
- Her suggestions to women: First, get financially literate. And financial literacy doesn’t mean you have to start picking stocks tomorrow. It means learning the basics of money.
- Second, find a good financial adviser. This country has many excellent mutual fund distributors and financial advisers, including some very talented women.
- Third, write down what you need your money to do for you, and then get started with something. This isn’t something you learn just by staring at books and telling yourself you'll do it someday. It’s okay to start. It’s okay to make mistakes. And then it’s okay to build your plan and get better over time.
News & updates
- Heatwave impact: A prolonged and dangerous period of extreme heat across the central and eastern United States is set to continue into the Independence Day weekend, exposing pressure points for power markets and transport, CNBC reported. Rail, airline and road travel could face delays or disruptions during a busy holiday week.
- Global market: Global stocks headed towards their best weekly performance in two months on Friday after a lukewarm US jobs report dampened expectations for an imminent rate hike from the Federal Reserve, which restrained the dollar and gave gold a boost, Reuters reported.
What is the name of McDonald's clown mascot?
Answer: Ronald McDonald
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