FMCGs focus on health, wellness in '08

Armed with the new-found mantra of 'health' and 'wellness', the first six-months of 2008 will witness a slew of new products and variants from leading FMCG companies such as Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, Dabur, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola India, among others.

These companies are set to offer variants of cereals, juices, snacks and milk-based products. While Nestle will roll out its CereVita brand of breakfast cereals, PepsiCo may launch a series of fruit juices and milk-based products.

Several of the leading FMCG and beverage companies such as Dabur Foods, ITC Foods, HUL and Coca-Cola India, are also expected to expand their existing food and beverage brands within the next three to five months, an industry source said.

While Dabur is planning a major expansion of its fruit juice range, ITC will expand its Sunfeast range of products. "We foresee good growth in the health foods category and expect that our portfolio of these products too will continue to grow," said Ravi Naware, divisional chief executive, foods division, ITC.

According to sources, HUL is in the process of testing a range of nutritional drinks and snacks under the Amaze Brainfood brand, which is available internationally through HUL's parent company Unilever, while Coca-Cola is expected to expand its existing offerings in packaged water, tea, coffee and beverages.

Speaking about the roll out of the Cerevita cereal brand, Martial Rolland, chairman and managing director of Nestle India, said, "We are currently test marketing Cerevita in Bangalore. The cereal will be available in two offerings." Nestle is also expected to evaluate its re-entry into the packaged water space, sources said.

PepsiCo India's plans for new fruit juices and variants of Tropicana was recently outlined by Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, on her recent visit to India.

However, company sources indicate that test-marketing of soya milk-based products is already in the planning and implementation stage.

PepsiCo India's food arm Frito Lays has just introduced three variants for Quaker Oats, its breakfast cereal brand.

"The three Quaker Oats variants are in the process of a national roll-out and the company may also introduce its tortilla chips brand, Doritos, from its global portfolio this year," said an industry source in the know-how.

For Dabur, expanding its Real Twist range of products is the priority this year. The company hopes to become a big player in the Rs 1,200 crore fruit drinks segment. Dabur forayed into the malted food drink market last year with the launch of Chyawan Junior.

Coca-Cola India, which launched its orange drink 'Minute Maid' last year along with an 'aam panna' variant under its Maaza brand, also hopes to strengthen its hold across categories including juice drinks, packaged water, tea and coffee.

"We will have a diversified portfolio this year," a senior executive of the company said.