Move over the sugary gharis andghevars! Surat will start dishing out Swiss chocolates too.
City-based Rajhans (Desai Jain) Group is setting up a Rs 500 crore chocolate factory in Kim on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway. The Rs 2,000 crore real estate group has diversified into confectionery business by tying up with a leading chocolate maker from Switzerland to manufacture nearly 25 tonnes of chocolate bars and moulds.
To be sold under the brand name Schmitten and Hoppits, the chocolates will be available in the market by January. Schmitten will be in moulds and Hoppits which will be sold as bars. The group is setting up the factory sprawling on 1.5 lakh sq ft land.
The machinery and operating technology is imported from the UK, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The factory is the first of its kind in Gujarat and touted to be the third biggest in the country after Cadbury’s and Nestle’s.
"The Swiss chocolate maker with whom we have tied up is number one in Switzerland ," said Jayesh Desai, chairman of the group. Desai said the chocolates will be premium brands.
The Indian chocolate market is valued at around Rs 4,500 crore is likely to touch Rs 7,500 crore by 2015, according to Assocham. Cadbury commands the highest 70% share. Rajhans Group has also hired two top executives from Cadbury.
Shubhra Kallani, marketing head of Rajhans Nutriments, said, "We will launch our products in eight states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan , Karnataka, Delhi and West Bengal."
"Compared to other chocolates selling in the market, these will be costlier as it will be apremium product," she added. The plant in itself will be a tourist spot for those wanting to see how chocolates are made.
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