Desai Brothers plans to double foods division business

Desai Brothers Ltd is planning to launch new food products and more than double turnover from its foods division in the current financial year.

The company acquired Mother's Recipe brand in July 2002 and pickles under this brand have captured sizeable market share in various states.

The company is planning to launch appalams, dal papads and blended spices and targeting a turnover of Rs 45 crore from the foods division in the current financial year compared with Rs 18 crore last year.

"Several other products are also in the pipeline. Our aim is to become the national leader in the ethnic foods business. We are allocating resources for capacity augmentation, brand acquisition, brand building and forming strategic relationships," Sanjaybhai Desai, executive director, foods division, Desai Brothers, said.

At present, exports contribute around 30 per cent to the company's turnover and the company targets a growth of over 100 per cent in exports in the current financial year.

The organised spices industry in India is pegged at Rs 1,500 crore and the company is targeting around five per cent of the market share. Leading players include MDH, Everest, Badshah and Swad.

The company has pickle plants in Saswad near Pune and Sarole near Shirwal on the Pune-Bangalore Highway. The plants have HACCP certification. The company is also planning to obtain ISO certification.