National
ABC
promotes health benefits of almonds among Mumbai children
The
Almond Board of California (ABC) has introduced the 'Almond Might Campaign'
for the school children of Mumbai. The campaign promotes the importance
of healthy dietary habits, in particular the benefits of having almonds
as a part of the daily diet. Kristi Saitama, Associate Director, Asia-Pacific/Russia,
Almond Board of California, said, “Lifestyle diseases like obesity,
diabetes and cardiovascular ailments are on the rise... from as early
as school days. Almond Board of California is looking to increase awareness
levels among children and their parents through the school programme
about the importance of nutrition and diet, as well as the health benefits
of almonds.” The campaign, aimed at 25,000 students of grade 6th,
7th and 8th in 50 schools, consists of an annual Almond Might Essay
competition and a talk by a leading nutritionist. The topics for the
essay competition are Almonds: Wealth of health, treasure of taste'
and 'Pop some almonds everyday, study, play, keep illness at bay'. Schools
interested in participation in the competition may write into almondmight@yahoo.co.in
or call +91 11 46038351 in Delhi.
Reliance’s Ranger Farm in Andhra
Pradesh
Andhra
Pradesh Reliance Retail’s cash and carry store brand for small
retailers and vendors,‘Ranger Farm’, is launching three new
stores in Vijayawada, Guntur and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Ranger
Farm has direct competition in the Metro AG cash and carry stores in
Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad and ITC’s new Chaupal Fresh stores
in Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh. The speciality of the Ranger Farm
stores is that they operate from 2 am to 11 am in the morning to supply
fresh fruits, vegetables and food in wholesale so that shopkeepers and
vendors can buy from there before opening their business. Similar Ranger
Farms had been opened in Hyderabad and Jaipur before the Reliance Fresh
stores became operational there. The response to Ranger Farm has been
good, according to reports.
Hatsun launches Arun Ice Creams Unlimited
outlets
Hatsun Agro Products Ltd’s brand, Arun Ice Creams, is
on an expansion mode with a new range of ice cream outlets. The outlets
will be called Arun Ice Creams Unlimited. Hatsun Agro will not stop
retailing its ice creams through its franchise outlets, though. In fact,
its franchise network will be expanded. Hatsun Agro’s Chairman
and Managing Director, Mr RG Chandramogan said,“Arun Ice Creams
Unlimited was a continuation of the process of building excitement around
the brand. The new range of outlets would sell ice cream by the scoop,
aggressively priced at Rs 20 a scoop of 100 gm.” More than 25 flavours
are available, with five new substituted every month. Hatsun is one
of the largest private dairies in India and has opened three Arun Ice
Creams Unlimited outlets in Chennai. Another 15 outlets are planned
in Bangalore and other cities.
ITC Foods to enter chocolate business?
After
countering Britannia in the biscuit sector, FMCG major ITC Foods is
planning to enter the chocolate market in India and counter leaders
Cadbury and Nestlé. The company has already launched Sunfeast
Sachin Kit Fit and will be introducing a homegrown chocolate brand.
It may also tie-up with Swiss brand Hershey’s, which is keen to
come to India. Says Jagdeep Kapoor, MD, Samsika Marketing Consultancy,
“To pump up volumes, all players are now trying to grow the category
by increasing the location and occasion of consumption. The Rs 2,200-crore
sector has registered a 12 per cent growth in 2006. With increasing
competition, this sector will further grow in 2007.” ITC Foods
is currently busy expanding its distribution network, adding 50,000
more retail outlets to its two million existing ones.
