M T R Foods Sold for $100 Million

MTR Foods has taken a Scandinavian turn. It's not US spice king McCormick that will buy MTR Foods as speculated earlier, but the Norwegian foods-to-metals group Orkla.

Shock/dismay/sadness/happiness.... a series of feelings ran through me when I read these headlines in Finance Asia & the Times of India.

Shock since I did not have any idea that MTR was up for sale, being in this faraway land. Dismay & sadness that a Scandinavian Company has taken over at the helm of MTR. What do Scandinavians know about Kannadiga cuisine? Happiness that MTR as a brand was worth 450crore, three times its current turnover. But mostly I feel sad. What Orkla will do with the brand & the product compositions remains to be seen. But things can never be the same.

Why am I writing on business news which I normally just read & never write about ? Because I have a deep personal connection with MTR. To me, MTR is like the khansama from an ancestral kitchen who keeps giving me treats, tips and tricks to turn out better food in my own kitchen.

My love affair with MTR began when I moved to Bangalore in 1999 & was introduced to the Mavalli Tiffin Rooms in Lalbagh. The institution is over 80 years old and produces some of the best, most authentic South Indian Vegetarian cuisine ever. There is always a long line of people waiting to get in. Right from 6:30 in the morning when it opens. Fluffly idlis, crisp dosas, the rava idlis that they popularized. Words cannot do justice to their piping hot sambhars and other yummy food.

Three floors were not enough to house their customers, and they later branched out into a fast food principle based "Namma MTR" in Bangalore & Dubai to keep up with the demand.

MTR pickles found pride of place in my kitchen right next to the pickles that my mother and grandmother sent me. MTR spice powders and masala mixes were the number 1 choice if I did not have the time to make my own.

When I left for the US, half my luggage was MTR instant Bisibele Baath mix on request from several colleagues who were missing the "taste of home".

By the time I returned they had vastly increased their range and had also introduced the "Ready to Eat" line. Heat and eat, even simpler than the "Instant Mix" and much less oily than a lot of other brands prevalent in the Indian market.

When we moved to Cairo, a large part of our shipment consisted of MTR instant mixes - rava idli, dosa, upma, gulab jamun among others. From Soups to Ready mixes, to Papads to Chips to Ice Cream mixes to Pickles to Ready to eat and Frozen Foods - MTR prepares and sells them all to their hungry customer base.

Their forays into North Indian food and Malayali food can be forgiven since they seemed to manage a pretty admirable job with those items too.

The restaurant and the packaged food business were separate entities. As of now there isn't much clarity on whether the restaurants will also belong to Orkla.

I hope Orkla does not tamper with the product compositions because they have been perfected with a lot of care. I pray they do not destroy the brand completely like other MNC's have tried to do with Indian Acquisitions. And I wish they will start exporting to Egypt.

Also published at Desicritics.org

Al Jazeera being beamed in English - Is the News Good or Bad ?

"The latest weapon in the Middle East is neither a missile nor a bomb. It is a Television Station" - I read this the other day in an editorial in Business Monthly - a journal brought out by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.

The editor who is talking about Al Jazeera English going live, goes on to say that - By all reckoning the slickly produced news broadcast is more powerful than the 170,000 coalition forces in Iraq with the potential to destroy administrations & topple governments.

Al Jazeera International was launched on 15th November 2006 as the first global English language news and current affairs channel headquartered in the Middle East.

Al Jazeera International is already available all over the world & free to air in most of them. (May be all of them) They claim to reach over 80 million cable and satellite households worldwide. It is also potentially available to the one billion users of the Internet worldwide as a live stream.

Headquartered in Doha, Al Jazeera aired its first exclusive on the 20th of November : News Footage of Naypidaw in Myanmar – formerly Burma – and a high level interview with the Minister of Information, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan.

Al Jazeera English was granted exclusive access to Naypidaw – a first for a foreign broadcaster. The interview ranged from Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention, the roadmap to democracy, the move to Naypidaw, insurgencies around the country, and the effect of sanctions and the lack of aid to Myanmar’s people.

Al Jazeera English's SOP states that : Broadcasting from within the Middle East, looking outwards, Al Jazeera English will set the news agenda and act as a bridge between cultures. With unique access as the channel of reference for Middle East events, and broadcast centres strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English will balance the information flow from South to North, providing accurate, impartial and objective news for a global audience from a grass roots level, giving voice to different perspectives from under-reported regions around the world.

Al Jazeera English is building on the ground-breaking heritage of its sister Arab-language channel – Al Jazeera, which was responsible for changing the face of news within the Middle East, now extending that fresh perspective from regional to global.

Viewers of "Western" News Channels will find the formats & imagery quite similar. They even have the familiar faces of David Frost (ex BBC) & Riz Khan (ex CNN Correspondent)

Reactions to Al Jazeera English, here in Egypt have been mostly positive. Considering that a lot of the population here has friends / relatives / acquaintances among the nameless & faceless people who are simply Collateral Damage to the American War on Terror. These people who are dying on "the other side" are simply statistics & numbers to the "Western" media. Forever to remain unnamed.

Hence Al Jazeera's tag line of "Watch the Other Side of World Events, Hear the Other Side of the story" has found its mark. Their other affirmations like "We want to change the News Agenda - Its a Fundamental Goal", "Do the Right Thing for the Right Reason" all have found their mark at least among the English speaking population of MENA

They don't seem to be heavily slanted in their perspective as of now. Someone mentioned that its somewhere between the spectrum of FOX News & Hezbollah's Al Manar Channel & will slowly find its gradient on this scale of extremes.

The editor of Business Monthly summed it up brilliantly when he said that "Western Governments will need to carefully consider their political strategy - the World has a New Perspective and it comes from the people on the receiving end of their Foreign Policy"

Also published at Desicritics.org

What is your Salary per Minute?

Shah Rukh Khan
What: Actor
How much: Rs 247 per minute
The King Khan, who started off modestly as a 'Fauji', made about Rs 13 crore last year. This included his endorsement deals for Pepsi, Hyundai Santro - and of course, wetting himself in a bathtub, surrounded by women for HLL's Lux. How much per minute?

Brij Mohan Lall Munjal
What: Chief of Hero Group
How much: Rs 255 per minute
The patriarch of the Hero Group received the Life-time achievement award for 'Excellence in Corporate Governance' by the Institute of Company Secretary of India this year. Brij Mohan Lall Munjal earned about Rs 13.4 crore last year. He continues to be the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and fuels his bank balance with Rs 255 per minute.

Sachin Tendulkar
What: Cricketer
How much: Rs 1,163 per minute
India's most loved sportsman makes a lot more than most CEOs of Indian companies; going by his annual remuneration for 2004-2005. Breaking it down, his three-year contract for endorsements is worth Rs 180 crores. He is also paid Rs 2,35,000 for a five-day test match and Rs 2,50,000 for one dayers.
A little bit of elementary math: This highest paid cricketer in the world makes around Rs 61.15 crore a year, or Rs 1,163 per minute

Dr A P J ABDUL Kalam
What: President of India
How much: Rs 1.14 per minute
Before taking on the reins of this country, Dr A P J Kalam played a leading role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapons programmes - so much so - that he's fondly referred to as the 'Missile Man'. In the early 1990s, he served as scientific adviser to the government, and his prominent role in India 's 1998 nuclear weapons tests established Kalam as a national hero. For all his work in his present capacity as President of the world's largest democracy, Kalam draws an annual remuneration of Rs 6,00,000 or Rs 1.14 per minute.

Mukesh Ambani
What: CMD of Reliance Industries Ltd
How much: Rs 413 per minute
Head honcho of the $16.5 billion Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani was ranked the world's 56th richest man in Forbe's list. But since this is only about salaries (and the like), we'll completely ignore his other earnings. Last year, Mr Ambani earned Rs 21.72 crore; a neat growth of 87 per cent over his previous year's earnings. He makes not less than Rs 413
per minute.

Amitabh Bachchan
What: Actor
How much: Rs 361 per minute
Kaun Banega Crorepati? Apparently, Mr Bachchan! With more endorsements and film releases per year than successful actors half his age, Bachchan's take-home last year was around Rs 19 crore - that's Rs 361 per minute.

Dr Manmohan Singh
What: Prime Minister of India
How much: Rs 0.57 per m inute
An economist by profession, Dr Singh has formerly served in the International Monetary Fund. His economics education included an undergraduate and a master's degree from Punjab University ; an undergraduate degree from Cambridge ; and a doctorate from Oxford University . One of the most educated Indian prime ministers in history, Singh also served as the finance minister under prime minister Narasimha Rao. In his present capacity, Singh is paid Rs 3,60,000 annually, i.e. Rs 0.57 per minute.

Indra Nooyi
What: New Pepsi Chief
How much: Rs 2,911 per minute (from October 11)
Chennai-born 50-year-old Indra Nooyi was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of PepsiCo, the US-based soft drink major. In that capacity, her remuneration stood at $5 million (over Rs 23 crore). With her promotion this year, Nooyi becomes one of the highest paid CEOs in the world, with an announced remuneration of $33 million (approximately Rs 153 crores). This means Nooyi makes a whopping Rs 2,911 per minute.

*All figures based on media reports

DON'T start calculating your salary. Such currency (fraction of paise) is yet to be invented.

Setting Up Your Fish Tank

Setting Up Your Fish Tank

Is your family thinking of adding a fish tank to your home? Fish tanks are a wonderful place to observe a habitat on a smaller scale. It’s like having your very own window into a fresh water riverbed or saltwater ocean.

But setting up a fish tank is not as simple as buying a tank and filling it with water and fish. Fish are not “easy” pets to care for. Their water must be kept very clean and often at a certain temperature, just to keep the fish alive. For example, goldfish are happy in a wide range of water temperatures – sometimes downright chilling, but African and South American fish come from tropical climates and require constant water temperatures ranging from 70 to 78 degrees, which is higher than normal room temperature.

Most people think that you can put fish in a tank and they will take care of themselves. Because they are in a closed environment, bacteria and algae can build up making it difficult for the fish to thrive. Millions of fish die prematurely from improper care, such as poor water filtration, and from negligence, such as not doing monthly water changes to help keep the water “breathable” for the fish. When you accept the responsibility of caring for any animal, you must offer the best possible care and, in the case of fish this requires a regular routine of care and maintenance to keep their tank in good condition.

When you purchase your fish, ask where they came from, and only buy fish that haven’t been taken from the wild. Entire coral reefs have been stripped lifeless for the pet trade. Fortunately, many fish today are raised on fish farms, so you have lots of fascinating species to choose from without adding to the destruction of natural habitats.

If you no longer want your fish and cannot find them a new home with a friend or an aquarium shop, take them to your local humane society. In fact, check with the local humane society first to see if anyone has brought in a tank of fish. You might adopt a few fish for your tank this way – and save some lives too.

Supply List

Here is a list of items that you will need to get your new tank started.

An aquarium
An aquarium stand
Air pumps and under gravel filter
Lighting
A hood
Decorations
Gravel
Plants (Live or plastic)
Heater
Thermometer
Chemical additive that removes chlorine from water
Fish food
Fish

Fish Temperaments

You probably didn’t know that fish have very different temperaments. Fish species can be divided into three temperament categories.

Social varieties
These are fish that get along well with other fish, like danios, tetras, Corydoras, mollies, guppies, and swordtails.

Semi-social varieties
These fish can be kept with fish of equal size without becoming overly aggressive, such as the barbs, gouramis, and angelfish.

Aggressive varieties
These fish must be kept singly or in pairs, such as the jewelfish, oscars, and male betas.

Choose your fish from one single category to ensure they will all get along well in the tank.

Setting Up Your Tank

Set up your fish’s future home several days before you purchase your new pets, so that the water temperature has time to stabilize and toxins have a chance to dissolve. Don't put the tank in direct sunlight or near a heating or cooling source, because they can promote algae growth and fluctuate the water temperature.

Rinse everything that's going in your aquarium with tap water, including the aquarium itself, and check it for leaks. Don't use any soaps or cleaning solutions, since even small amounts can be toxic. To protect your fish against any toxins, designate a special bucket and scrubber just for aquarium use.

Float the bag your new fish comes home in, in the aquarium for five to ten minutes to allow the water temperatures to equalize. Open the bag and add tank water until the water volume doubles in the bag. Wait another five minutes, then gently net the fish out of the bag and place them in your tank. Don’t add water from the bag into your tank, as it could contaminate the water in your tank.

Fish Care List

If you have pet dogs or cats, you know that they need to be fed, brushed, exercised, and provided with health care. Your fish will have specific requirements different from your furry pets, but which are just as important to their overall well-being and health. Here is a list of things you will have to do regularly to make sure your fish tank is healthy and clean.

Check daily to make sure all fish are present and healthy. If you find a dead fish, scoop him out with a net immediately.

Make sure the filters are working and the temperature is between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Every week, scrape algae off the inside of the glass walls and trim excess growth and dead leaves from live plants.

Every month, gently “vacuum” the gravel in the tank with a siphon hose along the top of the gravel. This should remove about one-third of the water, which you then replace with treated tap water at an equal temperature.

As you can see, an aquarium takes constant effort and attention. Remember that your tank is an environment and that each species of fish has a special niche in nature – a way of life that's unchangeable and can't be compromised. So think carefully before investing in an aquarium – a lot of lives will depend on you.

Kev in Dubai

Tropical Fish Tank Tips

Tropical Fish Tank Tips

A tank full of fish offers a window where you can observe nature in miniature. But fish are not “easy” pets to care for. You’ll need to spend time, money, and energy to keep them alive and healthy. Unfortunately, since fish are cheap to replace, millions die prematurely every year from improper care and negligence.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. You can provide proper care for these aquatic animals by following a few simple guidelines.

Water:
Most tap water contains chlorine and ammonia that can kill your fish. Ask your fish dealer if you need an additive in your area to neutralize these toxins.

Overfeeding:
Overfeeding is one of the most harmful and common errors in caring for fish. The food not eaten turns into toxins in the tank. Feed your fish small amounts of food once or twice a day. If they eat the food in two to three minutes and start looking for more, add another small pinch.

Water Temperature:
Some species, such as goldfish, thrive in unheated water, but most fish need a water temperature of 70 to 78 degrees.

Choosing:
Some fish are very hardy and relatively easy to keep, while others are so fragile that a temperature drop of a few degrees will kill them. Choose fish for your tank that all require the same environmental conditions.

Outer Temperature:
Keep your tank out of direct sunlight or near a heating or cooling source to avoid algae growth and prevent the temperature from changing.

Filters:
Fish constantly add waste and toxins to the tank, so filters, especially an under gravel filter, is important to keep the water clear and safe.

Replacing Water:
Once a month, with a parent supervising, remove about one-third of the tank water. Replace it with treated tap water at the same temperature.