Voltas hopes to grab 22% of western market

Engineering major Voltas Ltd is hoping to increase sales of its air-conditioners and refrigeration products and services in western India to grab 22 per cent share of this market by the end of FY 08.

Pradeep Bakshi, Voltas' vice-president, sales and marketing for unitary products business, said the introduction of new products, opening new outlets and broadbasing of service infrastructure will help the company achieve the desired penetration.

Bakshi said the company had introduced the Voltas Dome concept to showcase its products in the region. "The company will set up 100 Voltas Domes across the country this fiscal," he said, adding that the number of dealers will rise from 3000 to 4000 during the same time.

Elaborating on the plans for the western region, Bakshi said the company would expand the number of its channel partners by 50 this year, taking the total number to 827. To support the expanding sales network, the service franchisee network will also be strengthened from 115 to 140 during the year, he added.

Bakshi said the company's commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning business had also received a boost due to the rapid expansion of the retail sector.

He said the company has been working with retail chains like Croma and was in talks with big players including Reliance Retail.

"We want to win projects for at least one lakh tonnes in the market, currently estimated at five lakh tonnes," he said.