History

1972

  • Shiva Shankara Bhat Bonanthaya graduated with a science degree from Karwar.
  • At the age of 21, he established a rice, coconut, and groundnut oil mill in Palacode, Tamil Nadu.
  • He received financial support from his maternal uncle (who later became his father-in-law).
  • Despite a challenging business environment, he successfully operated the mill for nine years.

1981

  • Married and handed over mill operations to his younger uncle.
  • Moved to Bengaluru and worked on fabrication and a high-tension tower construction project with his elder brother.

1988

  • Driven by the vision to start something in his native Puttur for the benefit of locals, Shiva Shankara Bhat founded M/s Sri Rama Industries at Parladka, Puttur, with a flour and coconut oil mill.
  • Inauguration: 8th January 1988.
  • Started with a single rotary machine for oil extraction.
  • Opened a sales cum copra collection counter in a rented room in Yelmudi.
  • Business model focused on Job Work service, enabling growers to extract oil from copra for a service fee.
  • Gained goodwill and recognition in Puttur and nearby villages. Summers became especially busy.
  • Added another rotary machine, extended the factory building to include a godown, and later added two more rotary machines to meet demand.
  • Shifted the counter to a dedicated building on Yelmudi Main Road.
  • Started marketing branded coconut oil under the "Santhosh" brand in tins, cans, and pouches to wholesalers in Puttur town.
  • He was ably supported by a few trusted employees.

2006

  • Santhosh, younger son of Shiva Shankara Bhat, completed his BL and LLB from Vivekananda Law College, Puttur.
  • At 23, joined the family business, committed to taking it forward to the next generation.

2009

  • Keshava Ram, elder son, completed his MBA in Marketing from NMIMS, Mumbai.
  • Earlier, he had worked 4 years in the software industry in Bengaluru after graduating in Computer Science Engineering from SJCE, Mysore in 2003.
  • At 27, returned to Puttur with a vision to grow the family business using technology, branding, and modern management practices.

Cocoguru Trademark

  • The existing brand Santhosh was considered too common.
  • A new name "Cocoguru" was coined to reflect the vision of spreading the benefits of coconut to people.
  • Applied for trademark registration, secured the domain www.cocoguru.com, and created social media handles on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Designed the logo and brand identity.

Automated Packaging (2010)

  • With branding focus, products began to be packaged under Cocoguru in pouches, PET bottles, and tins.
  • Introduced automatic packing machines, operational from January 2010.
  • This project was supported by the Technology Mission on Coconut by the Coconut Development Board and financed by Karnataka Bank.
  • Built an additional floor (~1000 sq. ft.) above the existing factory.
  • Installed 3 packing machines, 2 filling machines, a compressor, and accessories.
  • An oil vending machine was also installed in the sales outlet to dispense loose oil to consumers.

2nd September 2010 – Company Incorporation

  • Cocoguru Coconut Industries Private Limited was officially incorporated on World Coconut Day, marking a new chapter in its journey.