Valentine Gift!!!!

People enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day by dining out at their favourite restaurants. And what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than surprise your valentine on a delicious treat?  Food acquires an extra special magic when prepared with love. As it happened, other unexpected but nevertheless enchanting surprises took place in Hyderabad this Valentine’s Day. Venky’s Xprs, the latest buzz in town has delighted the love strucks of Hyderabad.

Made for each other!!!!!!

The idea of romance and dining go hand-in-hand and the same was visible at Venky’s Xprs Outlets in Hi-Tech City and Banjara Hills on 14th Feb’12; where the love-birds flocked in, to express their love.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Venky’s Xprs promises to continue surprising and delighting its patrons with more delicacies on the menu and strengthening its network by adding more outlets in near future. Venky’s XPRS surely aims to not only reach the hearts of the people but also to satisfy the taste buds of millions.

Venky’s Xprs under the phase of expansion opened Banjara Hills (Hyderabad) and Bandra(Mumbai) outlets on 06 October 2011 and 10 October 2011 respectively.These state-of-the-art outlets with complete makeover were inaugurated at the hands of Mr. B. Venkatesh Rao, MD, Uttara Foods and Feeds Private Limited.

Mr. Rao, while declaring the outlets open for the general public re-emphasised on the groups commitment in delivering quality products and services.On inaugural day, both outlets of Venky’s Xprs received a huge response with maximum footfalls, signifying the popularity of the brand amongst the foodies.

The range of supreme quality vegetarian and non-vegetarian delecacies on offer and association of Venky’s Xprs with Campden BRI, UK one of the leading experts conducting research and development for the food and drink industry worldwide gives it a competitive edge over others in its category.

A unique combination of contemporary elegance, intimate ambience, healthy delecacies and unparallel quality coupled with best services are the hall mark of Venky’s Xprs and leveraging on these, it is gaining momentum across the country.

In order to further upgrade and match with the international standards of food safety and hygiene at the outlets, the key operating members of Venky’s Xprs sucessfully underwent intensive training programme especially designed for the company at Campden BRI, UK training campus.

This unique training programme was held from 8th August 2011 to 19th August 2011 with sessions earmarked to cover important aspects of advanced food safety, hygiene, administration, auditing and safe cooking.

This effort of the company has upgraded the morale and technical expertise of the work force and has infused the zeal to lead Venky’s Xprs among the top fast food restaurant chains in India and across the globe.

Uttara Impex a flagship company, which handles entire import and export of the VH group-India’s leading poultry giant organized one day seminar on “New Trends of Phosphate usage in Poultry Industry” on 5th August at Hotel Le Meridian, Pune. To explore the various trends of phosphate usage in the feed industry and to brush up the various avenues in poultry feed Industry was the core objective behind this seminar.

Mr. Donald Jernstrom, Head- Asia Sales, Mosiac Feed Ingredients, USA, honored the occasion and guided with his views and global vision on the current trends and future perspective of phosphate usage in global feed industry. Mr. Anand Dani, DGM, Marketing, Mosiac India Pvt. Ltd. also attended the seminar. VH Group Doctors and Nutritionists attended this in-house seminar and more than 65 Doctors actively participated in the question answer session.

Mr. Donald Jernstrom gave the brief introduction about Mosiac Feed Ingredients followed by the usage of BIO-FOS (MDCP) and how it is beneficial to Venkys and overall Indian poultry Industry. Mr. Donald Jernstrom also greeted VH group about its contribution to poultry industry and appreciated the initiatives of VH group for the betterment of poultry business.

Mr. Praneeth Rao, Director, Uttara Impex Pvt. Ltd. welcomed the delegates while Dr. Rahul Sawarkar hosted the seminar and gave vote of thanks. A seminar was quite interactive and explored the various opportunities as well as trends in the poultry feed especially phosphate usage.

VH Group India’s leading and fastest growing poultry conglomerate marked yet another footprint in Aviana 2011 – Sri Lanka. A trade fair organized for ever expanding Poultry & Livestock industry in the Asian region held from 07th JUL, 2011 to 09th JUL, 2011 at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo. With the visit and admiration of Hon’ble President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajpakshe who discussed various business avenues and horizons with Mr. Praneeth Rao, Director, VH Group & chief mentor behind the Aviana; Hon’ble Livestock Minister Mr. Arumugun Thondaman also personally visited VH group stall He discussed and appreciated Venky’s activities in Sri Lanka and extended the arm of help for the various VH Group business opportunities in Sri Lanka.

The poultry industry in Sri Lanka has seen a rapid development in the past few decades due to which it is identified as an important potential market for animal health products. The VH group has presence in Sri Lanka since 2003 and almost 70% of its animal health products and poultry vaccines are registered there. Keeping in mind the requirements of the Sri Lankan poultry farmer, Venky’s in association with Citihealth has setup a new sophisticated poultry disease investigation laboratory in Hettipola. This laboratory, manned by well qualified veterinarians, provides various support services to the poultry farmers across the island, free of cost. Specialist veterinarians from Poultry Diagnostic and Reasearch Centre (PDRC), which is one of the foremost bio-avian diagnostic and research lab the world over, frequently visit Sri Lanka to provide their expert services. An additional lab will soon be opened at Kaluaggala, (Hanwella Avissawella).

Uttara Impex Pvt. Ltd; a Venky’s group company which handles the entire import and export of various products from the group, has promoted Venky’s Portfolio of product and services of the Animal Health Products, Poultry Vaccines, Premixes, and Bio-security products. Venky‘s also exhibited its range of quality food products including the latest Human Health Products, its QSR Venky’s Xprs, Chicken in Minutes etc.

VH Group representatives, Dr. M.M. Chawak delivered technical session on “Salmonellosis and CRD: burning issues in poultry industry.” while Dr. Sanjay Gavkare conducted a session on “Immunosuppression: A key factor affecting poultry production” in the Aviana seminar.

B.Venkatesh Rao, Joint Managing Director VH Group, told Feedinfo News Service that the company is carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Padmashree Dr B V Rao, who started Venky’s. His vision was to lead India as “number one on the global poultry map”.

Rao says he is passionate about providing cost-effective superior quality poultry feed and comprehensive poultry diagnostic services to their customers in both India and overseas.

Feedinfo News Service spoke with Rao to get a better feel for Venky’s progress to date, its predictions for the industry in India, and the company’s overseas expansion plans.

[Feedinfo News Service] Mr Rao, what are your forecasts for poultry and egg consumption in India for the years to come? What are the main drivers?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] India ranks in the top five in the world in terms of total egg production, and top ten in poultry meat production. The broiler industry is growing at 18-20 % annually while the egg industry is growing at 7-8 % annually.

I believe that the Indian poultry industry is yet to reach the threshold and will still grow due to the favourable conditions generated during recent past, such as:
• The National Institute of Nutrition has recommended 180 eggs and 11 kg of meat (all type of meat) annual per capita consumption for our country.
• Presently, per capita annual consumption of poultry meat has increased up to 3.5 kg.
• At present, per capita consumption of eggs has increased to 53 eggs.
• 350 million people will be in the middle income group by 2025 and will form the major purchasing community.
• Youth population percentage of India is the highest in the world.
• Increase in the trend of mall culture, as well as an increase in the percentage of working couples at all social levels.
• The positive role of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) and the All India Broiler Farmers Marketing Cooperative Ltd (Bromark) is also instrumental in the growth of the egg and meat industry.
• The nationwide network of disease diagnostic laboratories and facilities for entrepreneurial development and training in both private and public sectors will further enhance the development of the poultry industry.
• Last but not the least, poultry meat is generally favoured and accepted by the majority of the religions of India.

[Feedinfo News Service] India was seen as a promising market for fast food chicken consumption in a Feedinfo News Service interview with Jim Jerzyk, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations for Yum Brands, Parent Co of KFC. Is this an area Venky’s intends to explore?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Being the core supplier of Chicken to KFC and McDonald’s, we are also coming up with our chain of outlets with the brand name, “Venky’s XPRS”. We have planned to start about 40 outlets throughout India within a couple of years. Our team of dedicated professionals is also working on the feasibility of opening our outlets in UK, Gulf, Middle East and South East Asian countries.

[Feedinfo News Service] In February, Feedinfo News Service interviewed Ricky Thaper, Treasurer of the Poultry Federation of India. He was encouraged by clear interests from American counterparts in exploring the possibilities of joint ventures in India. Is Venky’s looking into such possibilities?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] I respect and appreciate the views of Mr. Ricky Thaper about exploring the possibilities of joint ventures with American Poultry Companies. I wish to add here that Venky’s has been in joint ventures with Charles River Spafas, Cobb-Vantress and Isa-Babcock for specific pathogen free (SPF) eggs, broilers and layers respectively for the last 30 years. Venky’s is flexible enough to discuss the possibilities of joint ventures in any kind of innovative business proposal of mutual interest.

[Feedinfo News Service] India’s National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance has just put a cap on the use of antibiotics in poultry products. Are you using antibiotics in your products? What do you think about their use in the industry?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We appreciate and ensure strict adherence to the food safety laws and the public health regulatory policies of the different countries as well as of our own country. Further, we welcome the move of the government for implementing the ban of antibiotic usage in poultry products. For a long time we have adopted these policies for our entire range of poultry products. Our Animal Health Products Division has the complete product range for disease prevention and treatment.

[Feedinfo News Service] Your Q4 2010 results showed a significant increase in animal health product revenue (74.2%). Does Venky’s intend to put greater emphasis on this area of its business in the longer term?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Venky’s core business policy is to provide solutions to poultry farmers. We are dedicated to our mission of providing quality through technology. Considering the growth of AHP business, we are expanding our existing production facility and we are introducing new production lines. Our R&D Team is working incessantly on the development of new and innovative products for the betterment of poultry industry.

[Feedinfo News Service] You have taken your first step into Latin America with Venky’s do Brasil which will act as a hub for distribution of vaccines and animal health care products in Latin America. Can you give me an overview on how Venky’s sees that developing in coming months? How will you be adapting your product range for the Latin market and which countries will you initially be distributing to?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Our strategy is to offer our range of quality products to consumers at affordable price through the network of distributors.

We are in discussion with many clients for distribution of all our products like vaccines, AHP and disinfectants. By order of priority, we will focus on Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador (incl. Bolivia, Peru, Colombia), Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

[Feedinfo News Service] This month, the Poultry Industries National Council reported poultry production had fallen in Bangladesh by nearly 18 percent in nine months. In September you launched operations in Bangladesh with your factory in Jessore. How have you found the market there? Are you reaching your estimated production capacity of 4,500 tons and what are your expectations for your Bangladesh plant over the coming months?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We are aware of the issue. We are optimistic that government of Bangladesh will take the encouraging steps in the months to come for the betterment of Bangladesh poultry industry. We are also ready with our expertise to provide the required services and solutions to the Bangladesh poultry farmers. We have already established 2 diagnostic laboratories which are providing technical services to the poultry farmers at the free of cost. We are in the process of establishing 3 more diagnostic laboratories.

Venky’s own chain of fast food outlets

We are also coming up with an aqua feed plant for the production of high quality floating fish feed. Further, through our cost effective quality feed, we are confident to achieve the estimated targets during this financial year.

[Feedinfo News Service] In June we reported on the fact you were building a feed plant with a capacity of 4500 in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. Why did you choose to invest here and can you give us an update on its progress?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We have already started the production of poultry feed in Tay Ninh, Vietnam and the response is encouraging. Since the policies of the Vietnam government are friendly for foreign investment and there is a growth in the consumption of white meat in Vietnam and neighbouring ASEAN countries, we have established our feed unit as well as diagnostic laboratories in Vietnam. It is also convenient to explore the ASEAN market from Vietnam.

[Feedinfo News Service] Lastly, Venky’s has acquired Blackburn Rovers, making it the first Indian-owned English Premier League Club. How has this impacted on your international brand image?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Genuinely speaking, we have not acquired Blackburn Rovers for any kind of brand mileage, but out of sheer passion and love for the game of football. We are delighted and humbled to be associated Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions. But yes, this deal has eventually given us the recognition and mileage across the football loving countries.

salman khan led bollywood stars studded “TEAM VENKYS” enjoying a game of cricket against Tollywood stars led by venketesh.