National
An
affair to remember
Hindustan
Lever (HLL) and Pepsi Foods are gearing up to enter the hot and cold
beverages segment early next year. The joint venture between Pepsi and
HLL has already started its pre-launch activities in select cities across
the country, according to industry sources. HLL spokesperson have ben
quoted as saying, “We are closely working with Pepsi Foods on this
alliance for a launch early next year. HLL-Pepsi arrangement combines
Lipton brand equities with Pepsi’s bottling, sales and distribution
strengths to offer ready-to-drink teas and tea-based beverages in India.”
The Pepsi-Lipton alliance will be based on the success of Pepsi Lipton
Tea Partnership in US as well as Pepsi Lipton international joint venture,
which was formed last year for, select international markets. According
to HLL officials, “In India, the new alliance will target a national
presence building on Pepsi’s equity in the soft drinks category.”
In addition to hot beverages, the Pepsi- Lipton alliance is planning
to launch iced tea and cold coffee in the next few months in the country.
The way a cookie crushes competition
Cookie makers such as Parle Foods and Cookie Man
have planned to buck the trend by launching gift boxes this festive
season. While Parle has launched a limited range called Parle Occasions,
Cookie Man has positioned its product as an ideal gift for corporates
this festive season. Cookies as a Diwali gift have been quite successful.
They are sweet and have a long shelf life and come across as an excellent
gifting option among the corporates, said a Cookie Man official. The
cookie company had clinched sales of nearly Rs 50 lakh last year and
the sales are actually expected to touch Rs 80 lakh this season. However,
ITC Sunfeast has chosen to focus on new offerings instead gift packs.
The biscuit major launched its `confetti-special’ cream variants
like coconut, strawberry and pineapple to meet the festive mood.
No more Bisleri in the market
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
directed Parle Exports, manufacturers of ‘Bisleri’ bottled
water, not to release the product in the market till further orders.
This action was taken when the company failed to conduct the required
microbiological tests as per Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS)
norms. Simultaneously, the FDA Commissioner also directed the local
licensing authority, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), not to
allow the production and sale of the product until the company fulfills
the BIS norms. The company has violated the mandatory procedure laid
down by the BIS, as it requires them to store the bottled water for
five days before certifying it free from microbiological contamination
for safe consumption. Meanwhile, Sanjay Nair, GM, Parle Exports, said,
“We are trying to make arrangements for storage space for manufactured
bottles as per BIS directives but it will take some time.” So far,
the company was manufacturing and dispatching the water on the same
day for its consumers in Maharashtra.
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