Friday, January 25, 2008

Britannia Plans To Foray Into New Overseas Markets

New Delhi: Britannia Industries is planning to spruce up its international presence by entering new markets. Additionally, Britannia plans to get into new geographies. The company has already acquired, in early 2007, 70 per cent stake in Dubai-based biscuit and wafer manufacturing company Strategic Food International (SFIC) and a significant stake in the Oman-based Al Sallan Food Industries. The two companies are key regional players in the biscuit and cookies segment in the Gulf Co-operation Council markets and export their products across the world. SFIC offers over 55 varieties of biscuits, wafers and cookies with a product range of over 55 variants marketed in 70 countries spread over 6 continents.

The company also formed a joint venture with the Khimji Ramdas Group, one of the largest business conglomerates in West Asia. Britannia hopes that this would help the company to grow its international footprint by leveraging on the complementary strengths of the partners. The company also plans to enhance synergies with its existing partners. Britannia also plans to focus on its dairy business, Britannia New Zealand Foods Company (BNZF), a joint venture with the Fonterra Co-operatives Group of New Zealand. BNZF has a diversified product portfolio covering cheese, skimmed milk powder, butter and ghee, and has a significant market presence in India as well. The company''s turnover in 2006-07 was Rs 2,200 crore with around 90-95 per cent coming from the domestic market.

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