India to be Kellog's export hub in Asia

Breakfast cereals and convinience food manufacturer Kellogg Co plans to make India a hub for exports to the Saarc countries.

"We are already exporting to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, although in small quantities. Going forward we are looking to cover the entire Saarc region," Kellogg India managing director K Venkatchalam said today.

"We have already got the authorisation from the parent company for exports to the Saarc countries," he said.

Venkatchalam, however, ruled out increasing the company's manufacturing plant at Taloja in Maharashtra in veiw of the proposed exports.

"Our current capacity is not fully utilised and we feel the existing capacity will be able to cater to both exports and domestic demands," he said.

On the growth path of the company in India, he said, the company expected to exceed industry growth of 24%.

"We are looking a a nice double digit growth," he said, however, declining to put an exact figure.

He said the company will continue to intetnsify its advertising and brand building campaigns and may also expand the product portfolio, if there was a demand.

"But corn flakes and chocos will continue to be the growth driver," he said.

Kellog India joined hands with Indian Medical Association for the launch of a month long anaemia free India campaign. It will be implemented in metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other cities like Hyderabad, where awareness rallies and haemoglobin detection camps will be conducted.