Indian Coffee HouseSince 1958 · Thrissur Society No.4227

Our Story

From the Coffee Board's closures to a workers' co-operative that has lasted more than 65 years.

  1. 1940s

    Coffee Board starts the 'India Coffee House' chain during British rule.

  2. Mid-1950s

    Coffee Board closes several Coffee Houses and dismisses employees; A.K. Gopalan organises them into worker co-operative societies.

  3. Aug 1957

    First society formed in Bangalore.

  4. 27 Dec 1957

    First new-generation Indian Coffee House opens in Delhi.

  5. 10 Feb 1958

    Thrissur society (No.4227) registered.

  6. 8 Mar 1958

    First ICH in Thrissur opens - 4th in the country - inaugurated by A.K. Gopalan.

  7. 2 Jul 1958

    Malabar society registered at Palakkad (later Kannur, No.4317).

  8. 7 Aug 1958

    First Malabar ICH opens in Thalassery.

  9. End of 1958

    Branches in Pondicherry, Thrissur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Tellicherry and Pune.

  10. 17 Dec 1960

    All India Coffee Workers' Co-operative Societies Federation formed in Delhi.

  11. 2019-20

    Kannur society: turnover Rs. 75.12 crore, 30 outlets Kasaragod-Palakkad.

  12. Today

    Thrissur society runs 50+ branches from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram.

Two societies in Kerala

Thrissur Society (No.4227)

Covers Travancore-Cochin, from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram. Its founder president was Adv. T.K. Krishnan and its secretary was N.S. Parameswaran Pillai. It runs 50+ branches and is registered with the District Industries Centre, Thrissur.

Kannur Society (No.4317)

Covers old Malabar. It was registered at Palakkad on 2 July 1958, and its first ICH opened in Thalassery on 7 August 1958. In 2019–20 its turnover was Rs. 75.12 crore across 30 outlets from Kasaragod to Palakkad.

Board of Directors

Elected by the workers