Remember the shocking reports in 2019 about the suicide of V G Siddhartha, founder of India’s largest chain of coffee shops, Cafe Coffee Day. In December 2020, Malavika Hedge, Siddhartha’s wife, was appointed as the CEO of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL), the owner of the Café Coffee Day chain. The odds were against her. Yet, she has managed to script a wonderful success story.
V G Siddhartha’s shocking suicide- the beginning of CDEL’s troubles
V G Siddhartha’s suicide had also brought into focus the problems faced by CDEL.
The CDEL founder had asked his driver to take him to a bridge close to Mangaluru. As per the driver, Siddhartha went out for a walk. He wasn’t seen thereafter, and his body was recovered later.
A typewritten note was released by ANI. In the note, Siddhartha seemed to be apologising for “failing to create the right profitable business model.” He said that pressure from private equity partners and other lenders, and harassment from the income tax department had become unbearable.
This meant that CDEL, the owner of India’s biggest coffee retail chain, was in trouble. This was a matter of shock for people across the country.
After all, Café Coffee Day isn’t just a retail coffee chain, but also a part of the popular urban culture. CCD owns 572 cafes across 165 cities in the country, along with 333 CCD Value Express kiosks. It is a huge business with a total of 36,326 vending machines serving coffee to CCD customers.
Malavika Hegde takes over
Malavika Hegde, the wife of V G Siddhartha, took over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CDEL in December 2020.
This was quite a courageous move on the part of Hegde. CDEL had a debt of Rs 7,000 crore as of March 31, 2019. There was clearly a mountain of debt for Hegde to take care of. But Hegde, a heartbroken woman, decided to stand up to her problems instead of running away and fleeing abroad.
As CDEL CEO, Malavika Hegde had a number of challenges in her way. She had to reduce the company’s debt burden in order to keep her husband’s vision intact. She also needed to keep the company afloat as the livelihood of thousands of employees was at stake.
Malavika Hegde sets up CDEL for a miraculous recovery
Hegde hasn’t only proved to be courageous but has also managed to showcase her skills and talent as a CEO.
In August last year, CDEL said that it had reduced debt “significantly” and that the management was trying to put the company back on track.
According to its annual report, the net debt of CDEL stood at Rs 1,731 crore as of March 31, 2021. It said, “The total loan funds stood at Rs 1,779 crore which comprises of long-term borrowings of Rs 1,263 crore and short-term borrowings of Rs 516 crore.”
This was a considerable improvement in CDEL’s financial health. The company’s debt had stood at Rs 2,909.95 crore in FY 2020. CDEL would still want to improve further. But it has already managed to slash its debt burden significantly and is set to get back on track pretty soon.
Wow. Kudos to such a woman of courage and insight and a hear that thinks not of just its own but to the ones associated with them. You truly are a rewarded women for many Mrs. Malavika Hegde.
This is so great that malvika hegde.. A sp courageous human has managed to do with her so much confidence in her heart… Hats off to u.. A great salute.. So much respect for her… God bless u so much.. Bhagwan apko hamesha aise hi shakti de.. U r so so inspiring for many many humans including women n men too. Dear mam…. I havent known this abt ccd uptil now. But today only… N never tried much in ccd. Since i. Though its expensive… But now for knowing g abt ur courage. I will n shall must go there for something to hv… A BIG SALUTE TO U AGAIN..!!! pranam apko. . 🙏❤️
Really a great lady. This is called Women empowerment. Salute Ms Hegde.
Happy to note the CCD
will be available in the same taste again.
Malavika has done very well for the company!
It shows that women can achieve great results and conquer challenges when situations arise .
The strength women are endowed is tremendous and Malvinas Hegde is an embodiment of this strength.
Wishing her all the best and power in all her endeavours
Wow! Need to work under her .. lot to learn..
Amazing work Malavika! Keep up the spirit! Hope with all the hard work, luck and patience, you will take CCDL to a next level!
Truly inspiring. All the best. Hoping to see you achieve more.
A women of immense courage and faith in herself. I salute her and wish the the best of luck.
Any deed backed by integrity and sincerity is bound to succeed. I wish her every success in rebuilding CCDL.💐
Amazing work Malavika garu, All the best. Hoping to see you achieve more.
No words. Bow down to her. As she is too great…. not a joke as she is a women to be highly appreciated. Maam congratulations for the come back. Will always patronise ccd whenever i will travel and see the outlet.
Amazing turnaround and great work by Malavika. Shows women can stand up to any kind of challenges in tough situations. Leadership without any fear
More power to you ma’am!!:)
Hats off to you. You are a woman of steel. Women are strong by nature and are able to prove themselves if given an opportunity. Very often they are sidelined and ignored. She has given all of us (men) food for thought.
Kudos to a courageous woman who has overcome the odds heaped in the way of recovery of CCD
Kudos to courageous lady. Hope will not only clear the outstanding debt but will take CCD to a new hight. Wish you a great future ahead.
Wish you All the Very Best and more success ahead Ma’am. God give you strength and courage and all your dreams come true!
Inspiring indeed.
Curious to know what was her role when her husband was alive…
It will definitely give meaningful insights for role of spouse of all Entreprenuer.
Her son has married D.K.Shivkumars daughter, now one can understand
Great show ma’am. Wondering why in his lifetime Mr. Siddarth did not see the Great in house talent n seek help to turn around the Company??
Sad to not that often the Men do not share all the information with their spouse and Give them a chance to help before it’s too late:-(((
Well in Karnataka people say it was a murder by a politician or politicians and when everything settled down he or they invested the money to clear loans.
Just check who’s who list of politicians involved
Something has to be fishy that the debt burden got reduced from 7k crore to 1.2k crore in simply less than 2 years of time and that too with a dwindling business. Off course skills matter but it will never be disclosed how it was done.
Inspiring and getting motivated. Kudos to Mrs Malavika
You are a role model to every woman ! Kudos to you mam . God bless you to achieve your goal!
Remember the words of FiledMarshal KMKariappa who said ‘ Whenever you are confronted with a problem , accept it as a challenge , you are bound to succeed !’
Great fighting spirit and determination
Wish you more success
Regards
Dr Ravi
More power to you Malvika Hegde, Siddharth Gowda was great inspiration to many, I’m sure you’ll curve a success path for you too
Amazing! Do well, Malvika! May the forces be with you! God Bless.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Hats off to you Mrs.MALAVIKA. You have come back with a bang.Your courage and determination needs to be appreciated. A great
Achievement indeed in the hour of crisis.CONGRATULATIONS!!!
My heartfelt congratulations to Malavika Ji . More power to her
Great Mam No words describe your
Good Luck and All the Best for Bright Future God CCD
BLUNDER!!!!! Its pandemic time. People are not going out for 2 years and using only necessary items. And in such pendamic situation she has payoff huge debt. How??? Without running the business how she is making money?
Thats not as simple as it looks. I challenge the writer to share any 3 steps which she took to clear the debt or improve the sales in Covid times.
Actually CCD should have been closed as it is a showbiz and pseudo office space, which is not working any more in Pendamic. What is secret boss? Is it a SCAM?
Is she clearing debt from his father’s money? So she could fetch more buyers and attract more funds???
Beware!!
It is not all from sales, some of the company assets are used or monetised to reduce the debt. Nothing wrong with this situation.
People are like you good for nothing how can staying that SCAM Get deep knowledge first then post Responsible manner
We would like to see CCD in the Next level at the earliest. First best thing she did was saving the livelihood of the Working staff, which fetched her loads of Blessings and the progress of the company.
I’m a fan of CCD whenever I’m in India.
Women are referred to as the weaker sex. It is actually, the men who are weak. Even in the case of the farmers, the m n commited suicide, without stopping to think of their families. It is their women who have picked up the pieces and carried on the work.
It is the men who die in wars fought for their countries. Your crass statement doesn’t look at the context.Any way things are not what they appear to be.May be crooked dealings involving politicians ,black money and money laundering might be made behind the scenes.
Wishing Malvika all success, courageous lady…..all the very best….
Great work. Best wishes for your future endeavors.
Wow Malvika all the best indeed its was courageous step and strong vision has make this happen……wish you all the success for your future moves
Everyone expressing wow factors but I’m thinking how can a man underestimated her wife’s Talent at cost his own life
Everyone expressing wow factors but I’m thinking how can a man underestimated her wife’s Talent at cost his own life
Yes ma’am men are actually emotionaly weak but their male dominated society don’t allow them to expressing their sorrow
So they move on drinking smoking and eventually depression which lead them to suicidal tendancy.
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By Journalist priya Ramani (Pl google her)
She expose a minister in “mee too movement”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54869565