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TATA TEA SHRINKS IN CITY, EXITS HERITAGE HQ
SAMBIT SAHA
Calcutta Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100601/jsp/calcutta/story_12509401.jsp
June 1 2010
India
Tata Tea is ready to bid bye to 1 Bishop Lefroy Road, the registered
office of the group's beverage business for over three decades --
and neighbour to Satyajit Ray.
After slashing headcount in Calcutta, the company plans to leave the
landmark address -- a heritage building constructed by the Armenian
businessman JC Galstaun -- for a smaller office this year, within 24
months of the Nano leaving Bengal for Gujarat.
"We don't need such a large space anymore as most of the employees
have been relocated to Bangalore and other places," said a Tata Tea
official, on the condition of anonymity.
A new office address is yet to be identified, but Tata Centre on
Chowringhee is not an option.
"There is just no place there," clarified the official.
The company shifted to Bishop Lefroy Road from Dalhousie Square in
1977, a year after Tata Finlay, as it was called then, took over the
tea production and marketing operations of James Finlay of the UK.
Tata Tea Limited was born in 1983 when Tata bought out Finlay from
the venture.
The company re-organised operations last year sending the senior
management, including managing director Percy Siganporia, to London.
Later, the marketing team was shifted out to Bangalore, leaving only
the blending and buying team here.
"TTL has been in the process of integrating and consolidating its
operations at its regional centre in Bangalore since last year.
Henceforth, the entire marketing and commercial teams will be based
out of this regional centre. However, (the) TTL buying and blending
facility will continue to be headquartered in Calcutta along with
a registered HQ. The move is in keeping with the larger integration
exercise aimed at bringing efficiencies in the business," read the
official statement from Tata Tea when asked about the office shift.
The G+2 structure on Bishop Lefroy Road is spread over 39,000sq ft.
The building is owned by Property Co Ltd. Raiomond Irani, the
director of the company, said Tata Tea had not officially announced
its departure yet.
"It is occupying the building for over three decades. The company
has taken great care of the property," Irani said.
The building entered the heritage list in 2009 for its architectural
features.
Irani said the property was built by JC Galstaun (see box) in 1923-24.
Galstaun, an Armenian who came to Calcutta in the second part of 19th
century, was a leading builder and the arch rival of Arathoon Stephen
(of Stephen Court fame).
The initial occupiers of 1 Bishop Lefroy Road were the McDonnel
sisters who used the building as a boarding house for English
officers. After Independence, they left the property. In 1956, the
address was occupied by the USSR (former Soviet Union) Trade Office
before Tata Finlay entered in 1977.
Irani said it was one of the "better maintained" old buildings in
Calcutta. "There are three heritage buildings on Bishop Lefroy Road.
But sadly, the pavements are encroached, spoiling the beauty of the
magnificent properties here," he said.
From: A. Papazian
SAMBIT SAHA
Calcutta Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100601/jsp/calcutta/story_12509401.jsp
June 1 2010
India
Tata Tea is ready to bid bye to 1 Bishop Lefroy Road, the registered
office of the group's beverage business for over three decades --
and neighbour to Satyajit Ray.
After slashing headcount in Calcutta, the company plans to leave the
landmark address -- a heritage building constructed by the Armenian
businessman JC Galstaun -- for a smaller office this year, within 24
months of the Nano leaving Bengal for Gujarat.
"We don't need such a large space anymore as most of the employees
have been relocated to Bangalore and other places," said a Tata Tea
official, on the condition of anonymity.
A new office address is yet to be identified, but Tata Centre on
Chowringhee is not an option.
"There is just no place there," clarified the official.
The company shifted to Bishop Lefroy Road from Dalhousie Square in
1977, a year after Tata Finlay, as it was called then, took over the
tea production and marketing operations of James Finlay of the UK.
Tata Tea Limited was born in 1983 when Tata bought out Finlay from
the venture.
The company re-organised operations last year sending the senior
management, including managing director Percy Siganporia, to London.
Later, the marketing team was shifted out to Bangalore, leaving only
the blending and buying team here.
"TTL has been in the process of integrating and consolidating its
operations at its regional centre in Bangalore since last year.
Henceforth, the entire marketing and commercial teams will be based
out of this regional centre. However, (the) TTL buying and blending
facility will continue to be headquartered in Calcutta along with
a registered HQ. The move is in keeping with the larger integration
exercise aimed at bringing efficiencies in the business," read the
official statement from Tata Tea when asked about the office shift.
The G+2 structure on Bishop Lefroy Road is spread over 39,000sq ft.
The building is owned by Property Co Ltd. Raiomond Irani, the
director of the company, said Tata Tea had not officially announced
its departure yet.
"It is occupying the building for over three decades. The company
has taken great care of the property," Irani said.
The building entered the heritage list in 2009 for its architectural
features.
Irani said the property was built by JC Galstaun (see box) in 1923-24.
Galstaun, an Armenian who came to Calcutta in the second part of 19th
century, was a leading builder and the arch rival of Arathoon Stephen
(of Stephen Court fame).
The initial occupiers of 1 Bishop Lefroy Road were the McDonnel
sisters who used the building as a boarding house for English
officers. After Independence, they left the property. In 1956, the
address was occupied by the USSR (former Soviet Union) Trade Office
before Tata Finlay entered in 1977.
Irani said it was one of the "better maintained" old buildings in
Calcutta. "There are three heritage buildings on Bishop Lefroy Road.
But sadly, the pavements are encroached, spoiling the beauty of the
magnificent properties here," he said.
From: A. Papazian