A venture started in one of the India cyber capitals, Hyderabad, giftagift.com has been making news since inception. The sheer number of successful deliveries and milestones achieved have been the topic of discussion, and a source of inspiration, for contemporaries and competitors. Here are some instances where we have been covered and honored by the media.
 

Deccan Chronicle, Tuesday, July 17, 2001. "www.giftagift.com"

Country Oven, the favourite haunt of Hyderabadis for delicious cake, Pizzas and Burgers since 1993 has built a reputation for exclusive designer cakes for all occasions. In 1998 Country Oven created history by launching India's first on-line, e-com gift portal www.countryoven.com. Started with cakes and flowers, it has introduced a wide range of gift articles in the next few months and expanded its services to many more places. In the year 2000, Country Oven launched www.giftagift.com adding a No. of new products and gift services and expanded the operations to all major cities in a India. Both the sites have won accolades from NRIs who are the prime users of these on-line gift services. From the beginning it has emphasised on customer satisfaction and never hesitated to go an extra mile to satisfy the needs of its customers. This has won many a loyal customer and those satisfied customers continue to be the brand ambassadors of giftagift.com. The continued support of customers has helped giftagift.com to grow steadily and survive in the dot com slump. Recognition followed automatically and countryoven.com has been rated among the top 50 most useful web sites in India by none other than India Today Magazine in the year 2000. Recently Country Oven has launched the new version of www.giftagift.com combining both the sites www.countryoven.com and www.giftagift.com as one. This was a part of the long term brand building strategy. The new site has included many new features which interest its customers. The ultimate aim is to make www.giftagift.com a comprehensive portal for all gifting and information needs. Today giftagift.com is offering gift services in over 128 centers across India. Not limiting its services to only NRIs, giftagift.com is providing intercity services also. Using this service and the wide network, people, in India, can now send their choiest gifts, cakes or flowers from one city to other. The company is planning to commence its gift services to the US also in near future and it has established Customer Service Centers in the US, UK and Australia.

Deccan Chronicle, Saturday, December 30, 2000. "Countryoven"

Come New Year people in twin cities are eager to know what’s cooking at Country Oven. For that matter even other bakeries are curious. That is the spatiality of Country Oven - India’s first On-line E-com bakery & Gift Shoppe, known for setting standards in everything-service, quality and variety. Country Oven is the fruition of Dr Sudhakar Rao’s dreams and aspirations. A qualified medical professional who traveled around the globe scouting for the new trends and technologies, he is the force behind the success of Country Oven in a short span of time Ever since it came into being nine years ago, Country Oven has only one agenda; to become undisputed leader in customer service and product range. Under the supervision of Mrs Ramadevi, a service minded Business Management graduate, Country Oven has many first to its credit. From the beginning it is the quality and world class designs that have placed Country Oven way ahead of others. The Design development team at Country Oven constantly adds new designs that are in vogue elsewhere in the world span of time. The range of exquisite designs and shapes proved it difficult for others even to imitate.

The Hindu, Tuesday, April 20, 1999. "Bakery Creates Record"

Country Oven, a city-based "Online" bakery, has created a record of sorts by providing an opportunity to NRIs to greet their friends and relatives in Hyderabad by ordering cakes to be delivered to them through the Internet. In the last 15 days of starting such operations, it has executed over 400 orders placed with it and paid for on the net. Country Oven has been taking orders on the Internet and delivering in specified areas in the city. It has opened an office in New Jersey (U.S.) to process the transactions in dollar and earn foreign exchange. According to the owner, Dr. Sudhakar, it plans to extend such services to other places in India, particularly the metros. He also plans to increase the range of products to include flower bouquets, sweets, gifts and greeting cards

Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad - Monday, May 3, 1999. "Country Oven to offer online cake services"

Hyderabad May 2: City-based Country Oven, the country's first online bakery offers delivery of cakes to citizens in the city. The bakery extends the facility to residents abroad to greet friends and relatives in Hyderabad and pay for it on-line using international credit cards. The concept of 'send a cake's and the technology of credit card processing available abroad can be now done in India using SSL techniques for encrypted transmission of credit card information. Country Oven, South India's first E-commerce web site at www.countryoven.com is hacker proof and there is no fear of credit card particulars being known to others. At the web site, a user can place order and pay by credit card once it delivers the order and send a confirmation to the sender. All this for a price varying from $5.99 to $24.99 for cakes weighing from 1 kg to 3 kg, Sudhakar Rao, promoter of Country Oven said. The bakery plans to extend the facilities to other major towns and spread the delivery across India particularly metros within his network. The range of products is also to be extended to include flower bouquets, sweets, gifts and greeting cards.

Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad - Saturday, May 6, 2000. "Countryoven Year-old online"

Countryoven - the favourite haunt of cyberabadis for cakes, pizzas and a variety of baked delicacies over the year is also India's first and only bakery offering on-line ordering and gift service facility through Internet. On 27th April 2000 Countryoven has successfully completed one Year in on-line business. In retrospection being instrumental in conveying the love and affection of thousands of NRIs to their families and friends in India is a highly gratifying experience. The secret behind the success of Countryoven is its relentless hard work and commitment. Started initially with cakes and flowers in twin cities, but thanks to the overwhelming response from NRIs expanded the service to all major cities in AP and other metros in India. Today Countryoven operates its on-line services in places like Vijayawada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam,Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Tirupathi, Bangalore, Mumbai and the range of gifts include over 5000 items.

The Economic Times 26 December 1999. "Taste of everything Christmassy"

The Country Oven, which delivers their online delivery counter at www.countryoven.com also took the plum way out this Christmas but added their special touch by offering a small variety in the types of icings you could choose almond, soft or royal.

The Deccan Chronicle Thursday, October 11th, 2001. "India's first WAP enable e-com gift portal"

It is rather a cliché to say that the Internet has made the whole world a global village. But if we look at the impact it has on various fields one really wonder show technology affects even human relations. With the numerous online shopping malls and gift portals people find it very convenient to greet and exchange gifts with their friends and relatives for every occasion. While youngsters making a beeline to greeting and gift shops, Which are doing roaring business at every corner of the street, online gift shops are not lagging behind in offering similar facilities to NRIs. City based Country oven which has promoted India's first WAP enabled e-com gift portal www.giftagift.com has taken the lion's share in online gift services business. Having executed a record number of orders for Mother's Day, Rakhi and Friendship Day this year, giftagift.com continues to be the leader in online gift services and is the most favoured gift portal by NRI's, Owing to its service excellence and breathtaking range of gift options. With over 150 varieties of Special Cakes, and a Matching number of Flower arrangements, giftagift.com offers over 5000 gift articles and gives a real gift gallery experience to its customers. Using its Intercity Services, not only NRIs, but everyone can send gifts or cakes to one city to other anywhere in India. This Service is available at over 135 centers across the country. Giftagift.com has introduces many more new gifts for the coming festival season and gearing up to create sensation during the coming Diwali, Christmas and New Year's eve.