Mendocino to set up bottling plant

Focusing on the needs of the horticulture industry, Chandigarh-based Mendocino Organics Private Ltd is going to set up a bottling plant in the region and has plans to go for commodity trading this year, starting with paddy.

With its core business in organic and organic products that can build a sound system for healthier soils and their produce, the company has tied up with Canadian-based Grotek Manufacturing Inc. to sell its 1,800 product lines in India.

"Currently we are selling directly to farmers and horticulturist of 18 products, which will increase this year," said Minnie Kalha, managing director, Mendocino Organics.

Explaining the marketing strategy of the company, Kalha said with the organic products coming in liquid form, the unit would facilitate bringing down the cost of the product.

"With an investment of Rs 15 crore the unit spread across 12 acres will have a capacity to bottle 100,000 litres a month to start with," said Kalha.

She said Grotek Manufacturing Inc would be involved in this project and work will begin in March.

The entrepreneur is at the same time eyeing the commodity market. "End of 2006 we will lift the first crop of Paddy to US and Canada, which will be followed by wheat, sugarcane and cotton," she said .

In the organic and organic based products business the company has 16 containers on ground annually . With major projects in hand the company is looking to clock Rs 100 crore next year.

The company has offices in Bombay, Chennai, Hyderabad and Chennai and operation spans all over IndiaIndia . This year it is targeting to expand into the Northern Eastern states of Assam and Meghalaya, where it has not made its presence till date.

According to Kalha contrary to conventional views it is the South India from where the company is receiving a much more positive response compared to the agro rich northern Indian market.

"Government co-operation, awareness among farmers and their receptive nature is what i'll attribute the success in the southern market,"she quipped.