Dec 2, 2020
The Central Arecanut & Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Ltd (CAMPCO) is aiming at Rs. 2,000 crore turnover in the current financial year as expansion is a part of its big plan.
The COVID-19-induced lockdown had no adverse impact on the business operations of CAMPCO, a joint venture between the States of Karnataka and Kerala, and also noted that Arecanut is fetching a good price.
CAMPCO President S. R. Satish Chandra stated that a one lakh square feet facility is being built at Kavu in Puttur Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district at a cost of about Rs. 25 crore and it is planned to be opened in February 2021. It would house Arecanut and pepper processing units to start with, followed by cocoa godown at a later stage, among others.
A model kiosk showcasing how cocoa is grown and finally made into chocolates, along with a food joint offering local cuisines, is also proposed there with an aim to promote it as a major tourist attraction, Satish Chandra said.
CAMPCO, a multi-state cooperative society, posted a turnover of Rs. 1,848 crore in 2019-20.
CAMPCO had entered into the e-commerce market through Amazon with its chocolate products and ‘Winner’, a sweetened cocoa beverage mix, and will now add Arecanut and pepper (on Amazon) in January. The plan is to reach out to retail customers, home consumers, and the younger generation.
The Society would also launch “CAMPCO ON WHEELS” from January for procurement of Arecanut from the doorsteps of farmers; this initiative will be started from Puttur (Karnataka) and Kasaragod (Kerala) regions. Depending on the response, we will take a call on expanding it to other areas.
CAMPCO currently operates two exclusive chocolate kiosks at Puttur and Bengaluru. And is considering starting kiosks closer to tourist attractions in Mangaluru, Subramanya, Kodagu, and Mysuru.
New products having natural active ingredients are expected to be launched this calendar year-end. CAMPCO has planned 2-3 products along with differently flavoured ‘Winner’ and all having immunity-boosting power.