Cover Story

Capricorn Food is among the top mango processors in India

Rahoul Jain has made Capricorn Food one of the top mango processors in India. The company sells pulp, concentrates and frozen fruit, but mango pulp accounts for the largest chunk of its business.

Sanwaria Agro is among one of the fastest wealth creators

Anil Agrawal's Sanwaria Agro has been ranked one of the fastest wealth creators between 2006 and 2011. The Agrawal family has years of expertise in procuring soybean and supplying it to companies such as ITC and SM Dyechem.
Four agricultural barons who minted money in the fields

Many Indian lords of the field are raking in money with simple commodities such as potatoes, maize, rice and soybean, with their success attracting big private equity deals at a time when the rest of the economy is in the grip of a slowdown.. Business Today brings you a quartet that shows how it is done.
Sangha Group has used technology to make potato a money spinner

Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha has used technology to make the humble potato a money spinner. And he also rules maize. His family is the largest potato and maize producer in the country with more than 5,000 acres of land spread across Punjab.
Anil Mittal has played a key role in transforming basmati trade

"In the basmati rice industry, the most important asset is experience in the commodity. It takes time to acquire. Old is gold here, unlike with most other commodities where the old gets discarded," says the Delhi-based miller and exporter.

Just for your palate: Best Glenfiddich whisky that goes with Indian cuisine

What good is the tastiest of food if you don't have a glass of exquisite whisky to wash it down with?

The suit, over the years, has evolved into a symbol of affluence and style in its own right, even as styles changed rapidly.

Fly the skies in style

Baron chief Rajeev Wadhwa speaks on the advantages of having India's first global jet card.

Restaurant review: The California Boulevard in New Delhi

Expect movie glitz and glamour and some striking food and flavors at The California Boulevard!

Countdown to Comic Con: The Very Best in Graphic Novels

The 4th Annual Indian Comic Convention will be held from February 7 to 9 at the Thyagraj Stadium in INA Delhi.

A glimpse into Cattier champagne's legacy

The man behind the brand leads us through a virtual tour of its creation.

In conversation with: Pezalli's Anupama Sachdeva and Gary Foo

In an exclusive conversation, the team behind Pezalli Pvt Ltd talk about all things bespoke!

We ventured into real estate to fill a void: Vianar Constructions

One of the latest entrants on the real estate scene, Vianar Constructions has set its base in Goa. BT More catches up with its Managing Partner Varun Nagpal.

Best lip-smacking cocktail

While some would object to 'contaminating' good liquor, you have to agree that a lip-smacking cocktail has its own merits.

Top partying destinations based on your personality

Take a peek at your personality type and find a niche for yourself in your city's vibrant nightlife.

Restaurant review: Mekong Restaurant, Mumbai

The Mekong Restaurant takes you on a delightful tour of all the places touched by a beautiful river.

Top three places Americans go to for partying hard

If there's one thing Americans do well, it's party! The top three places they go to unwind.

The joy of wine tasting parties

With proper accompaniments and the right company, wine tasting can turn a long afternoon into an entertaining one. Host a wine tasting party, and spread the joy.

The Art of Pouring Beer

The glass should lie flat when it becomes full, with about one-and-a-half inch of head at the top. Wait a few seconds for the head to settle before drinking.

How to make the best of your whisky investment without slipping into the drink

David Robertson of Dalmore tells you how to make the best of your whisky investment without slipping into the drink.

4 cool whisky stones

Featuring a core filled with a non-toxic gel that chills it inside out, these whisky stones can keep your drink cold for three to five hours after being kept in the freezer just for an hour.

Restaurant review: Olive Bar and Kitchen in New Delhi

The new winter menu at Olive Bar and Kitchen, Mehrauli will stir your taste buds and satiate your soul!

Business Today Mind Rush event: Make the worst of times your best of times

Business Today hosts its first Mind Rush, a two-day event that brings global thought leadership to the doorstep of India for the leaders of tomorrow. Here's what's on the agenda of our business leadership on December 13 and 14.

Feature phone sales fall for the first time in Jul-Sep quarter

While feature phone sales fell 0.8 per cent, Smartphones sales rose 152.3 per cent in the July-to-September quarter.

New products in the market

The tuxedo is one piece of outfit that will never go out of style, and no one knows it better than designer brand Alexander McQueen.

In focus: Hublot's King Power FC Bayern Munich special edition watch

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot's partnership with German champions FC Bayern Munich also marked the launch of King Power FC Bayern Munich, a limited edition watch numbered at just 200 pieces.

Non-film music is becoming lucrative in Bollywood-crazy India

Besides regular festivals, food and beverages venues have helped non-Bollywood music grow in India. The bands get a platform and customers get to hear independent music performed live.

Some new cancer drugs are still not available in India

There are more than a dozen drugs in important cancer treatment areas that are not available in India. The new drug flow into India has slowed down significantly and it is a matter of concern for oncologists and cancer patients.

Portable warmer by students comes to the rescue of premature babies

A portable warmer developed by two Indian students and their classmates at Stanford University is helping premature babies survive. With the help of venture capitalists, they have turned their classroom concept into a commercial product, sold under the brand name Embrace Nest.

Gujarat Muslim businessmen no longer shunning Narendra Modi

Gujarati Muslim businessmen disagree with Chief Minister Narendra Modi's politics, but say he has cut red tape, made the administration more responsive and lured many companies to invest in Gujarat.

Why India is grappling with shortage of natural resources

Mining has faced multiple problems in recent years. There have been problems in acquiring land for new mines and delays in government approvals. Increased judicial scrutiny following corruption scandals in the allotment of mining blocks and environmental degradation caused by illegal mining have made matters worse.

Non-executive directors at Indian firms have not proved effective

Non-executive directors at Indian companies have not proved effective so far in improving corporate governance practices. They themselves are partly to blame.

People who made news last fortnight

Starring: Simon Cooper, Finbarr Moynihan, Devendra Chawla, Gaurav Burman, Daniel Houghton, Jaydev Mody

News you may have missed last fortnight

News you may have missed last fortnight -

Career tips: Metro engineering makes for a good prospect

With 19 cities having taken up or set to take up metro projects, career prospects in metro engineering are plentiful. Training engineers for the special needs of metro transportation is getting more attention as well.

Behind Daikin Industries' remarkable turnaround in India

Japanese air-conditioner maker Daikin Industries fared poorly in the highly competitive Indian market till 2009. But then the company rolled out a well-crafted strategy to capture a larger size of the market. This case study takes a look at its remarkable turnaround story.

New UMPPs on offer, but bid norms may put off private investors

Authorities are hoping to revive private-sector interest with two new so-called ultra mega power projects (UMPPs) in Orissa and Tamil Nadu that are part of the government's aim to provide cheaper power through economies of scale.

India losing ground to China as trading partner of South Asian countries

China's trade with South Asian nations has grown from $40 billion in 2006 to $85 billion in 2011. In terms of foreign direct investment in the region, China is way ahead of India.

Partial withdrawal of sanctions on Iran a boon for India

The lifting of the European Union restrictions on insurance opens the door for Indian refiners to increase imports to contract levels without breaching sanctions.

Cane pricing has become a political issue in Uttar Pradesh

A delayed cane crushing season in Uttar Pradesh is hurting both the industry and farmers in the country's second-biggest sugar producing state. Successive state governments have largely ignored the economic rationale and steadily raised prices year after year.

Review: Wello personal trainer app, HP Chromebook 14 and HTC One Mini

A personal trainer app, a shrinking HTC One and a Chromebook from HP

Sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh is in crisis

The sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh, India's largest sugarcane-producing state, is in crisis. Around 75 of the state's 123 sugar mills have chosen not to run this season and have stopped buying sugarcane to protest against the high sugarcane purchase price set by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Sexual Harassment at the Workplace: Who said what

Only when sexual harassment victims start claiming monetary damages ... will Indian companies sit up and take notice, says T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education, & former board member, Infosys Ltd, in Business Standard

Book review: Sahara-The Untold Story

Financial writer Tamal Bandyopadhyay's second book is on the country's largest employer after the Indian Railways - Sahara India Parivar. With its primary business in the loosely regulated residuary non-banking business, Sahara and its Chairman Subrata Roy have courted both glamour and controversy. Bandyopadhyay's book, Sahara: The Untold Story, is rich in detail, anecdotes and context. Edited excerpts from the book releasing in January:

Book review-Reimagining India: Unlocking the Potential of Asia's Next Superpower

Essays by 60 authors prescribe what should be done, but fail to explain why it is not done.

Tips to organise a bash that will be the talk of the town this season

Hard as it may seem, hosting a party doesn't necessarily have to be a nightmare. Some tips to organise a bash that will be the talk of the town this season.

Josey Puliyenthuruthel on big stories of Business Today's Dec 22, 2013, issue

The cover story this fortnight is a good untold one, even if I say so. Ajay Modi, Shamni Pande and Anilesh S. Mahajan focus on a set of businessmen who made their riches from an economic activity that India has all but written off: agriculture.