Multinational snack maker FritoLay has Indianised its potato chips brand Lay's in the wake of competition by new entrants like ITC's Bingo. As part of its rebranding exercise, FritoLay has introduced Lay's Chaat street, India's Mint Mischief and Wafer Style based on consumer insights.
After achieving high levels of market penetration, the Rs 8,800 crore (Rs 88 billion) detergents industry is now banking on growth through high-value products and innovation. Innovation in the laundry care industry is possible through four ways, according to Sudhanshu Vats, category head, home care, Hindustan Unilever (HUL).
Chocolate-lovers may soon find their chocolate dearer if the problems plaguing the industry continue. Raw material costs have risen by more than 20 per cent in the last 10 months.
HUL registered a growth of 9.67 per cent in ice-cream sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 to Rs 33.80 crore (Rs 338 million) from Rs 37.07 crore (Rs 370.7 million) for same period last year. The companies also saw a growth in cold-chain infrastructure and a shift in their marketing strategy has worked to their advantage.
A dipstick survey of a bunch of small shops in Mumbai shows that the growth in their sales this season has been much less: under 15 per cent compared to 30 per cent in the previous years. "The malls have taken away our customers. They have a larger a variety of products which they are able to push through a plethora of schemes and very visible display," said Rajesh Shah, the owner of a kirana store in Andheri.
The lure of FMCGs has faded over the years with the rise of consultancy firms, foreign banks and software companies, according to the Campus Recruiter Index, an annual survey by research agency AC Nielsen tracking students' perception of recruiting companies on campuses.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which have triggered books and case studies on the cola war, are ready to battle each other on a new turf in India: fruit drinks. Pepsi is said to be ready with Tropicana Twister, an orange drink, to take on Coca-Cola's Minute Maid, which debuted in India in February and went national in May.
The Sweden-based cosmetics company Oriflame is set to introduce 150 more products in India by next year, as competition among direct-selling companies in India rises with the entry of more multi-national players.
Britannia, which holds over 38 per cent of the market in value terms, is investing Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion) to increase its capacity, 433,000 tonnes of biscuit last year, by 20,000 tonnes.The move is designed to wrest market leadership in volume terms as well, a position now held by rival Parle.
Hindustan Unilever already has operations across the world. It is therefore consistently improving its product mix to introduce premium variants in its product portfolio. In the April-June quarter, the company launched premium products.
Hindustan Unilever is associating with small-format retail through its Super Value Store, Dabur with Parivaar and Marico with Mera. At many shops, the counter has been modified into a U or L shape so that the shopper can move and pick items.
The two groups have another JV, Wadia BSN, set up in 1996 to launch Groupe Danone's products from its global portfolio. However, nothing has been launched through the JV till date and Danone is in negotiations with the Wadias to dissolve the JV.
Market research company, AC Nielsen, in its monthly retail sales audit of consumer goods, has identified 24 categories in the personal grooming space that are growing at an average rate of 13 per cent.
Beverages major, Coca-Cola India, will use the might of Mumbai dabbawallas to lure customers to sample its orange juice drink, Minute Maid Pulpy Orange.
Danish beer giant Carlsberg is looking at increasing investments in manufacturing and distribution in India.
Mattel step may improve toy quality in India.
Mumbai-based fashion apparel manufacturer Spykar Lifestyle recently received $5 million (Rs 20 crore) investment from private equity firm Avigo Capital Partners.
International brands like Roca, Kohler and H&R Johnson plan to expand their scale of operations in India. The expansion will be either through brownfield expansion of their joint venture partners or through setting up greenfield ventures.
Reach out-of-court settlement on trademark violation.
In the last two years, a clutch of home-grown fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies sought growth by acquiring companies overseas.
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