Global Consumer Products Look to Start in the Chocolate and Beverage Space
Global Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd. is all set to step into the FMCG space with chocolates and beverages. The chocolate industry in India has grown more than 20% and the startup wants to be a part of that growth story with a corpus sum of $50 million. Promoted by Godrej Consumer Products Managing Director, A Mahendran, Goldman Sachs and Mitsui & Co’s Mitsui Global Investment (MGI) the Bengaluru based company is eyeing the South Indian market.
Since they wish to remain asset-light and build on the brand and distribution network, they are tying up with a chocolate manufacturer in Hyderabad for production. They hope to make sales through self-distribution. The company also plans to introduce a range of non-carbonated fruit juices and milk-based drinks, but no launch date has been set. Other areas which the company is exploring are confectionery and snacks.
AIBA Would Like Lower Taxation for Beer
The All India Brewers’ Association (AIBA) would like separate criteria for taxation on beer. They have approached the Ministry of Food Processing (MoFPI) to set up a beer board to consider their suggestion to tax beer solely on absolute alcohol content as it is not a hard liquor. Beer has only 5% to 8% alcohol which is lower than the 12% of wine and Indian made liquor, while hard liquor has 40% absolute alcohol content.
AIBA feels it is discriminatory to apply the same tax criteria as hard liquor on beer manufacturers. As hard liquor the taxation rate ranges between 1.6 times to 5.7 times higher in Kerala and Haryana respectively and the exercise duty per litre bottle is the highest in the world.
Amira Expands Online Retail Presence
Amira Pure Foods Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. is one of the largest exporters of basmati rice. Since online retailing has become an important sale channel the Amira Group has been strengthening its retail presence online. It has tied-up with onekirana.com, an online grocery retailer focusing on Delhi-NCR region, to sell its large range of Basmati rice. On a pan India level it has tied – up with Snapdeal.com making inroads into the e-commerce space. Amira hopes these partnerships will be fruitful for all including the consumer who will be able to order Amira range of rice online.
Murginns Spread out into Punjab
Murginns has ventured beyond NCR and has appointed distributors in Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Amritsar and Pathankot. Murginns’ parent company, KCL, is also expanding its product reach and has launched ‘Murginns Garlic Herb Butter’ and variants ‘Cumin and Coriander’ and ‘Cracked Pepper’ in Punjab. They have targeted Punjab as consumers here love dairy products.
Murginns manufacture breakfast cereal and value-added dairy based functional foods in the NCR. The products are only available in select stores but will soon be seen on the shelves of Big Bazaar and Easyday with the new distributors in place.
Lite Bite to go American
In June 2015, Lite Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd. is all set to launch the first ‘American Tandoor’ in Washington DC. With an investment of Rs.10 crores, the 250 seat outlet will open in one the biggest Malls in Washington DC and will serve Indian cuisine in American style.
In the next 2 to 3 years Lite Bite Foods intend to invest Rs.100 crores to grow its existing brands globally. Lite Bite operates 88 outlets including ‘Subway’ through franchise and its own brands Punjab Grill, Asia Seven, Fresc Co, Zambar, Pino’s, Street Foods of India, Bakers Street and Savor. It will also be launching a new gastro pub brand, ‘The Local’ by the end of January.
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