Nestle India is gearing up to launch a whole range of biscuits and cookies in the market within this financial year. The company is looking at the possibility of launching the new products under the "Milkmaid" brandname, which is also the popular brand for the company's condensed milk.
Chairman and managing director Carlo M Donati said the biscuit manufacturing unit is being restructured and the company will be revived shortly. Sources said the products are expected to be soft-launched in the last quarter of the financial year. Donati, however, refused to comment.
On Milkmaid being the mother brand for biscuits, Donati said he would not be able to say at this point in time.
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The biscuit manufacturing business -- the erstwhile Excelsia Foods Ltd -- was acquired from Dabur India Ltd more than a year ago.
Excelsia Foods Ltd was originally a 60:40 joint venture between Dabur India and Osem, an Israeli company, for manufacturing biscuits, cookies and biscuit rolls and other bakery products in India. Subsequently, Nestle acquired Osem's global business and, as a result of this, the latter's shareholding in Excelsia was transferred to Nestle India.
At a later date, Nestle acquired another 20 per cent from Dabur to increase its shareholding to a majority 60 per cent. However, soon differences emerged between the partners on issues related to day-to-day management. Sources said Nestle wanted to carry out Nestle India's biscuit business through Excelsia. Nestle wanted to manufacture biscuits using Nestle brandnames, whereas Dabur was not in favour of this.
Thereafter, Dabur exited the venture. Since the two companies parted ways, Excelsia has not been in operation.
Donati said that Nestle is will also launch a specially brewed instant cold coffee and iced tea in the country through the newly set up joint venture company Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW).
Zurich-based BPW is a 50:50 joint venture between Nestle SA and Coca-Cola International. "We are in the process of launching the cold coffee and iced tea in the country as we believe that cold beverages market is expected to grow further," Donati said.