|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unibic India slates Rs 25 cr. investment for second manufacturing facility
|
|
Thursday, 12 August, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
|
Unibic India, which is known for its premium cookie range, has planned to set up a new production plant at an investment of Rs 25 crore. Currently, the company has a full-fledged facility at Bangalore. The new plant will be the second unit for the company.
"The options for establishing the manufacturing unit are under evaluation. The facility is likely to be set up in North India," Nikhil Sen, managing director, Unibic India, told F&B News in an e-mail interaction.
Unibic which has been Australia's leading speciality biscuit and pastry company flagged off the Unibic India operations in 2004. It is now engaged in the production of 14 variants. These include wire cut cookies with oatmeal & wheat bran base, chocolate chips, cashews & almond encrusted, centre filled cookie with a chocolate paste filling, jam topped, honey & oatmeal based cookies.
So far the performance of Unibic cookies in India have been impressive and the company claims it to be the brand leader in the segment. There is an appreciative customer base, pan India. "The cookies are also the chosen brand by leading airlines, star hotels, multinational companies and a segment of households," staid Sen.
Although there are no wire cut cookies in the market, the competition for the company comes in from Britannia Good Day, ITC's Sunfeast, Parle's Hide & Seek for sales volumes.
Unibic cookies are positioned as niche and premium. It has its strength in wire cut technology, Australian recipes and global brand status. Its target audience includes all age-groups. "We have specific products suited to the varied palette and choice. We are gearing up to be the country's leading cookie brand despite being premium priced at 20 % higher than competition," said Sen.
The company is also a contract manufacturer for private labels and these include Coffee Day and Tasty Treat, to name a few. "Further tie-up negotiations are on the cards," Sen added.
The Indian biscuit industry is growing at 11% and the cookie segment is clocking a growth rate of 35% annually. Unibic has been registering an annual growth of 50%.
With growing health consciousness, snacks like cookies are being developed to enhance consumer's general well-being. This is where Unibic's oatmeal based cookies cater to such expectations. The company has slated sugar-free variants for launch too." With increased affluence, mass migrations from biscuits to cookies is being witnessed," said Sen.
Early this month, the company went on to launch a chocolate cookie. The new product is filled with a smooth and velvety chocolate center. The product is available at all leading supermarkets in 150gram pack priced at Rs 50, 90gm pack for Rs 25 and 15gram for Rs 5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|