A2B – Banking on BharatBenz for critical operations

The transport of perishable goods in quick time calls for highly dependable vehicles that don’t fail when it matters most. Find out how Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) found longlasting answers to its problems when it opted for BharatBenz trucks that have added a whole new dimension to the marquee food chain’s fleet. N. Balasubramanian gets the details in an exclusive interview with V. Vishnu Shankar, Director, Adyar Ananda Bhavan Sweets India (P) Ltd.

- N. Balasubramanian

If you have travelled across the southern State of Tamil Nadu, there is no way you could have missed one of the eye-catching yellow-blue outlets of Adyar Ananda Bhavan. A2B, as it’s more popularly known, is one of the most sought-after chains of vegetarian restaurants in South India, with over 145 outlets across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and a few more overseas. Operating in the food sector has its own set of unique challenges, the main one being shipping raw materials and finished food products which have very little shelf life and demand fast transportation under controlled temperature levels. Having been in the business for over three decades, A2B has all the necessary infrastructure and expertise in place, as reflected in its position as one of the most respected and preferred brands in the sector.

A2B’s logistics operations are broadly classified into three parts: a) transport of ready-to-eat restaurant food for which it uses small commercial vehicles; b) movement of goods from factory to city outlets which is handled by ICV vehicles; and c) long distance inter-city transport involving shipment of critical products like milk for which medium-duty vehicles are deployed.

Giving an overview of A2B’s operations, V. Vishnu Shankar, Director, Adyar Ananda Bhavan Sweets India, says: “Our main operation hub, including our mother plant, is located at Ambattur in Chennai. We have another plant in Bangalore, and two more mid-size facilities in Coimbatore and Thanjavur. The raw materials reach our two main plants from where they are shipped to our outlets in both States.”