| "We are expecting to acquire 20 per cent of 50 lakh litre ice market in Kolkata which should be worth around Rs 35 crore within 2006-07," said Paul Thachil, chief executive officer of Mother Dairy India Ltd. (MDIL). |
| It will fight competition from Metro Dairy, Amul and Kwality Walls, the existing major players in Kolkata. |
| The city was expected to account for more than 70 per cent of the total eastern Indian market, he said. |
| The ice cream would be available under two brands, Mother Dairy and Chillz. |
| Currently the product would be brought from the manufacturing unit in Delhi. |
| MDIL has already initiated discussion with local manufacturers for outsourcing of production, said Thachil. |
| "Once the market picks up, MDIL will be outsourcing production of ice cream. In the longer run though, MDIL would look at setting up our owned units but that would only be feasible once the market size was substantial," added Thachil. |
| Mother Dairy ice cream would be available from 2,500 outlets by the year end, he noted. |
| Prior to this, the company had launched long life milk and ghee in the Kolkata market. |
| Next on the list would be dairy whiteners, butter and paneer, over the next few months. |
| With the launch of a range of products in Kolkata, MDIL's market share was expected to rise to 10-15 per cent in the next couple of years, claimed Thachil. |
| MDIL ice cream would shortly be launched in Bangalore and Hyderabad by February 2006. |
| MDIL operated three major brands - Mother Dairy, Dhara and Safal. |
| It was expected to record a turnover of Rs 2000 crore in 2005-06, more than 33 per cent higher than the previous years turnover of Rs 1,500 crore, Thachil said. |
| MDIL also expected to export goods worth around Rs 75 crore in 2005-06 from the last year's figure of Rs 45 crore. |
| Exports consisted of milk powder and Safal. |
| Mother Dairy will be spending around Rs 35-40 crore for advertisement and brand promotion in 2005-06. |
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