epages News [Bakeries]

Big Mac's global freeze not to impact Indian operations

Sep 27, 2003: BIG Mac in India today got in-step with its worldwide "i'm lovin' it" campaign unveiled by McDonald globally earlier this month. But despite McDonald's global arena strategy to cut spending and open less stores worldwide, expansion plans in India will not be put on slow mode.

The burger company has been growing at an average 40% over the last six odd years in the country.

Globally, McDonalds was one of the symbols of American lifestyle that had been targeted by anti-American sentiment in the wake of the Iraq war. Meanwhile, unveiling the new brand initiative for India, a global integrated marketing programme had been rolled out earlier this month and a similar "customer-centric" programme would be rolled out in India over the next two years. Meanwhile, the company is looking to break new ground in the South, with its first Big Mac outlet set to come up in Bangalore by mid-2004. The company would get into the franchising mode over the next two years and clarified that the parent company's presence in the North and West were through 50:50 joint-venture alliances. The decision to franchise is a departure from the practise being followed till now, where all outlets are company owned.

South African gourmet pizza in India now

Sep 23, 2003: New Delhi: Next time you dial for a pizza, may be a smartly dressed young man in bow ties will be delivering you authentic South African gourmet pizzas. Debonairs Pizza, the leading pizza franchise in Africa, is making its debut in India by launching its first outlet at the MGF Mall in Gurgaon. Debonairs Pizza was established in South Africa in 1991 by two university students who operated from a family bakery in Pietermaritzburg. In 1996, Debonairs Pizza was acquired by the highly successful Steers Group of Companies, giving the franchise access to the most professional and polished support system available within the fast food franchising industry.

Currently there is a 173 strong franchise retain chain outfit in South Africa with 11 additional outlets in rest of Africa and Mauritius. In India, the company would dish out its authentic gourmet pizzas and pizzas tempered with over six kinds of sauce besides Indianised pizzas to excite the Indian palate. In Delhi, Nanji plans to open more outlets before expanding to Mumbai and Chandigarh.

Pepsi wants to limit shelf life of variants

Jun 06, 2003: New Delhi: In a strategic shift, Pepsi has decided to launch variants to only leverage events, platforms or properties so that they can be discontinued once the affair is over. It seems the limited success of Pepsi-Aha, the lemon-flavoured brand extension, was an eye opener that made the cola company rethink whether extensions return growth to the business in the long term. The company feels a variant should be introduced to cash in on an event, which will help notch up incremental sales. According to the company, the variant should be pulled out of the market once it has fulfilled its purpose. For instance, the limited edition of Pepsi Blue, the electric blue cola launched during the cricket World Cup provided a new beverage experience to the consumers and sold 2.5m cases. Pepsi is on the look out of such other opportunities to launch limited edition products. The company had no plans to withdraw Pepsi-Aha from the market. It is still in circulation.

ITC keeps taste buds tingling with new dishes

Jun 06, 2003: Bangalore: ITC Foods’ premium ready-to eat gourmet brand ‘Kitchens of India’ has decided to pamper the Indian sweet tooth. It is now planning to introduce several Indian sweets and desserts, mid-price range of branded spices and ready-to-cook pastes and masalas. The plan is to offer a wider range of servings to complete the menu in the Indian kitchen. There are some offerings in the Gharana range including ‘Paneer Darbari,’ which is soft cubes of fresh cottage cheese in aromatic tomato gravy, laced with butter. ‘Paneer Mushroom Kofta,’ mushroom and fresh cottage cheese dumplings simmered in aromatic gravy and ‘Chicken Darbari,’ cubes of chicken in aromatic tomato gravy.

Last year, the company launched canned ready-to-eat gourmet cuisine from ITC’s Bukhara, Dum Pukht (cuisine from central India) and Dakshin (cuisine from south India) restaurants. The overseas audience for this cuisine includes the large NRI market. The Kitchens of India brand has been aggressively scouting for traditional recipes outside those created by ‘Welcome Group’ restaurants to expand their product range. The company is getting serious about the snack food segment, and has introduced Bischips (baked wafer-thin wheat-based biscuits) for the health freaks. It may soon evolve into chips, bhujias and a variety of other snacking options. Currently, the foods division contributes Rs 6 crore to the group’s turnover. According to industry estimates, the ready-to-serve foods market is expected to grow from the current Rs 60 crore to Rs 250 crore in five years.

McDonald's to attract adult consumer with new ad film

May 30, 2003: Fast food brand McDonald’s is launching a new television commercial (TVC) next week to take the adult consumer into its fold. In the last few months, the fast food brand has also introduced many products such as McCurry Pan and Wraps, to encourage adults in this age group to visit its outlets.The new TVC showcases the fact that the American food chain is as popular with adults as it is with the Indian kids. The film spells out McDonald’s new focus on wooing the 24-38 year olds with kids. The new ad film seems to be a result of the fact that the new product innovations had lured 30% more adults to walk into the McDonald’s outlets in the last six months.

Coke launches promotional campaign for Sunfill

May 14, 2003: Soft drink major Coca-Cola India introduced a two-month promotional campaign for its powdered drink brand, Sunfill, called the ‘Sunfill Home Maker'. As part of the scheme, lucky scratch cards will entitle consumers to prizes like Videocon television sets, refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines and other consumer electronic goods.

There are 10 bumper prizes and 125 individual prizes to be won; the bumper prizes include a microwave oven with FM radio, an air-conditioner, a home theatre system and a DVD player. Individual prizes include washing machines, colour TVs and refrigerators. According to company officials, the Sunfill Home Maker offer is part of Sunfill's strategy to reach out to the Indian housewife by enabling her to better fulfil her role as a sensible provider to her family.

Domino's to set up outlets in shopping malls

May 12, 2003: Domino’s Pizza India Ltd, a master franchisee for India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, plans to expand the number of stores from 90 to 100 within a year. Plans are afoot to set up Domino’s outlets in new malls, which are coming up in Delhi and Mumbai.

The company recently unveiled its ‘Summer Special Offer’, that will run till July 27, 2003. As part of the strategy, customers can avail of four free bottles of Coke with the purchase of a large pizza and garlic breadsticks, two Coke Mobile free with the purchase of a medium pizza and garlic breadsticks, and one Coke Mobile free with a regular pizza and garlic breadsticks.

Cadbury calls for a media pitch

May 09, 2003: In a significant development, Cadbury’s, whose media duties rested with Carat Media Services, has called for a pitch. According to sources in the know, the chocolate major had called for a pitch around two or three weeks ago and agencies invited included Madison and Maximize. In total, around seven agencies were invited for a credentials presentation though names of the others could not be ascertained. Incidentally, both Maximize and Madison have made their respective credentials presentations in the last seven days.

Sources point out that considering the number of agencies invited and the investment of time and energy into the pitch process, the company may have made up its mind to move the business out of Carat, though no confirmation was forthcoming on the subject. If all goes well for rival agencies, this would be the second high-profile movement of business from the media independent with Asian Paints already announcing that it was moving its account out of the agency.

Nestle Purina to enter pet foods market

May 01, 2003: Nestle Purina Petcare, a group company of the global food major Nestle SA and a leading player in the pet products category, has unveiled plans to foray into the pet food and petcare products market in India. The firm has appointed Delhi-based distributor Garg Company, as its sole distributor for India and marketing support would be provided by Nestle. Starting with the first launch in the Delhi and NCR region, the products will be rolled out in other markets in a phased manner. Initially, Purina Dog Chow and Purina Cat Chow will be made available at Vet Clinics, pet stores and at departmental stores that have a section for pets. These products are initially being launched in 3 kg and 15 kg packings for Dog Chow for both Adult and Puppy variants and 400gm packs for Cat Chow.

Company officials said that the demand for prepared pet food remains largely untapped, as only about 10% of dog owners feed their pets prepared food. However, with growing awareness and realization that animals have different constitutions, pet owners have started buying foods that are scientifically developed and more suited to fulfill the nutritional needs of their pets.

Amul to enter soups segment

Apr 28, 2003: The Amul brand of ice cream from Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation has already brought in rich dividends to the company. The federation now plans to introduce ready-to-serve tomato and vegetable soups in the first week of May. On anvil are the Masti tomato soup and hot ‘n’ sour vegetable soup in tetra packs. These will be in one-litre packs mainly, but the company plans to push 200 ml tetra packs for single servings, which will be sold through the company’s channel network across the country. Recently, the company launched bottled lassi in Ahmedabad that has been selling an average of 5,000 litres every day. It now plans to market it across the country.

Cola says it's made for Indians

Apr 26, 2003: London: In a protest spin-off from the old Coca-Cola catchline, a so-called conscience cola aimed at Muslims everywhere, the Third World and, for the first time, the huge Indian market, is preparing to sell itself as the real thing. Qibla Cola, produced in the UK by a Pakistani mother of three and marketed worldwide by an Indian with roots in Surat, plans to sell its locally-produced “ethical alternative” drink to Indians from May onwards. Its planned entry into India is being seen as the first foray by that ultimate paradox, the radical multi-national, which plans to make boycott politics into global big bucks.

Qibla Cola, which is packaged in red and white to look vaguely like the world’s biggest brand from way back 19th-century Atlanta, plans to sell itself as the easy way for the Third World to “liberate the tastebuds and gain freedom from Western exploitation”. It comes within months of the French Mecca Cola’s attention-grabbing move to harness the European Muslim backlash against the US.

Coca-Cola not to cut 300 ml bottle price

Apr 21, 2003: New Delhi: Coca-Cola India had decided not to cut prices of 300 ml returnable glass bottles from Rs. 8/- at present, despite Pepsi having lowered prices to Rs. 6/- for this pack size. Coke wants to push the 200 ml "Chota Coke" pack this summer since "this is where the volumes are going to come from. That is why it is priced 200 ml at Rs 5/-".

The only other soft drinks major, Pepsi, had last week announced a price slash to Rs 6/- in the 300 ml returnable glass bottles segment, heralding the summer sales competition between the two US giants in the Indian market. The fresh price war follows an earlier onslaught when both Pepsi and Coke reduced prices by about 20% across the board just before the Union Budget for 2003-04 provided them with excise duty relief.

Pepsi co's Q1profit up by 13%

Apr 19, 2003: New York: Pepsi Co. said its first-quarter profit rose nearly 13% as chilly weather drove up sales of its Quaker oatmeal, offsetting a drop in its North American soft-drink business. Earnings also benefited from a drop in cost related to Pepsi Co’s acquisition of Quaker, the maker of Gatorade sports drinks, and a gain on the sale of Quaker’s Mission pasta business. Pepsi Co., the No. 2 worldwide soft-drink maker behind Coca-Cola, is trying to sell more of its products by linking drinks and foods together. Ads recently pitched Lay’s potato chips and Pepsi soft drinks, and the company is also pushing Quaker breakfast foods alongside Tropicana juices. Operating profit at Frito-Lay North America, PepsiCo’s most profitable unit, climbed almost 6%. Growth in that division’s core salty snacks came from products like Twisted Cheetos, new flavours of Munchies Snack Mix and Baked Doritos.

McDonald's to tie up with Coke for fruit-based drink

Mar 29, 2003: McDonald’s India Pvt Ltd (MIPL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based fast-food giant McDonald's Corporation, along with Coca-Cola, is developing a fruit-based beverage, to be retailed exclusively at McDonald's outlets. The beverage will be made available under the Maaza brand name, but will be different from the regular Maaza brand. McDonald's has an international tie-up with Coca-Cola, which extends to the domestic market as well. Apart from Coca-Cola, in India, McDonald's has an existing tie-up with Cadbury India, for McSwirl ice-cream cones. McDonald's India is also running a promotion with foods major Nestle, specific to the KitKat chocolate brand.

McDonald's currently operates through 48 outlets in the country, and has set a target of 100 restaurants by 2005. Apart from adding outlets in cities where the chain already has a presence (Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Pune, Baroda and Ahmedabad, to be specific), McDonald's will set up operations in Chandigarh, Jallandhar, Amritsar, Lucknow and Bangalore in the months to come.

Kwality launches new chain ‘Bread & More’

Mar 26, 2003: The Rs 50-crore Kwality Group of companies has added a new chain of confectionery and bakery under the brand name ‘Bread & More’. Having snapped ties with Hot Breads, Kwality now plans to pump in Rs 4.5 crore to open 15 outlets in Delhi & the NCR region, Mumbai and Goa within the next 12 months. Positioned as ‘Bread & More’ the chain is being pitched as an authentic French Café, which promises a Pandora of recipes ranging from breads, buns and croissants to mini pizzas and chicken tikka buns. The chain’s beverage partner is Coca-Cola India and the bakery machines have been imported from France and Italy. The outlets were aimed at increasing the company’s turnover by 5-7% this fiscal over a topline of Rs 55 crore last year. The company has a strategic alliance with Hindustan Lever for which it manufactures ice-creams marketed under the ‘Kwality’ brand name.

Indian tea exports seen hurt by Iraq war

Mar 22, 2003: Calcutta: India’s tea exports face a big setback due to the war in Iraq, its fastest-growing market. India, the world's largest producer and consumer of tea, has been focusing on newer markets like Iraq and Afghanistan after purchases by traditional buyers such as Russia, Britain and Germany slackened. Exports rose six % from the year earlier to 193 million kg in 2002, but that was lower than targeted. Tea output in India, which has been facing stiff competition from nations like Vietnam and Bangladesh, fell three % to 826.2 million kg in 2002.

National roll-out of Georgia brand in 2004

Mar 21, 2003: Coca-Cola India plans a national roll-out of the Georgia brand of coffee and tea in 2004. The company has till date introduced the brand only in two metros - New Delhi and Kolkata. Coca-Cola India plans to fine-tune its strategy before a national roll-out. The company has installed 2,500 vending machines in the two cities. Coca-Cola's foray into the tea and coffee segments in India follows its success in the Japanese market where tea accounts for 26% of the company's turnover in the country. It would be first have to fine-tune its strategy to take into account differences in consumer preferences in various parts of the country.

Nestle may cut US ice cream exposure

Mar 05, 2003: Zurich: Nestle is seen willing to give up parts of its new US ice cream empire to win regulatory approval for its purchase of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, but disposals, if any, would be limited. Nestle would make disposals, to win Dreyer's, whose brands such as Dreamery and Godiva generate some $1.5bn in annual sales.

They noted the world's biggest food group had cut some of its pet food operations to win regulatory approval for its $10bn acquisition of Ralston Purina in 2001. Nestle declined comment and reiterated that a decision by US regulators was expected soon. It had originally hoped to win regulatory approval before the end of last year.

Amul ice creams on an export thrust

Feb 27, 2003: The Rs. 2,400-crore Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited plans to export its range of 'Amul' ice-creams to countries including the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain from March this year, the company plans to step up exports of dairy products to West Asian countries, with a target of achieving export turnover of Rs. 120 crore from present level of Rs. 80 crore over the next one year. GCMMF is also looking at the possibilities of exporting its ice-cream range to other international markets at a later stage.

Coke outscores Pepsi in market share

Feb 25, 2003: Atlanta: Coca-Cola slightly increased its lead over rival Pepsi-Cola in 2002, thanks to the successful launch of Vanilla Coke and the growth of Diet Coke. Coke gained 0.6% points in market share and increased its case volume by 2.1%. The company captured a larger share of the market even though its Coke Classic brand fell 0.6% points in market share.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola dominates 44.3% of the US soft drink market, but saw its market share drop between 1999 and 2001. With the latest gains, it's only 0.2% points away from where it stood in 1998 at 44.5. The Dr. Pepper/Seven Up unit of Cadbury Schweppes, the third-largest soft drink group, fell 0.6% points in market share to 15.0%.

 
WebHydEpages.com
Hyderabad-Classifieds.comHyderabad-Jobs.com