Ruchi Soya to foray into soaps

Ruchi Soya Industries is planning foray into the soaps segment with the launch of its Ruchi No1 brand. The soap will be available in two sizes of 75 gms (priced at Rs 8) and 100 gms (priced Rs 10) in three fragrances, rose, jasmine, lime.

"Our research and consumer feedback has shown that consumers have a high preference for soaps that are suitable for all in the family and provide for all skin needs "" purification,nourishment and moisturising. Ruchi No.1 has been developed based on this research. We have introduced Ruchi No. 1 at relatively low prices to capture the economy segment which is nearly 45 per cent of the Indian soap market," said company managing director, Amrita Shahra.

The foray into soaps, Shahra said, was an value addition to its soya and oil businesses.

"Fatty matter is a by product that we were any way selling to other soap manufacturers. So we thought of manufacturing soaps ourselves. Our focus willcontinue to be our agri and refiniing businesses, in addition to the soya busines," she said.

Shahra added that the company will now focus on consolidating its soya foods business and indicated that it was looking at adding a number of new items to its foods portfolio. Ruchi Soya Industries Limited is a fully integrated Soya processor.

Established in 1972, it is the flagship company of the Ruchi Group which has six port-based refineries in Patalganga, Manglore, Chennai, Kandla & Haldia.

Ruchi Soya is the first Indian company to export Soya meals and manufacture edible grade Soya flour and textured Soya proteins.

Ruchi Soya has an annual turnover of Rs. 3,534 crore. The company was adjudged the fastest growing FMCG in India for the year 2004-2005 by AC Nielson ORG Retail Audit and India's largest edible oil manufacturing company in refined Oil consumer packs in the AC Nielson ORG Retail All India UR September "" December 2005.