Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from May 2003, page 4

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from May 2003

IDBI, BANK MERGER RULED OUT (IDBI Bank will not be able to meet the mandatory reserve requirements).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Government of India has decided not to merge Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) with IDBI Bank. The Ministry of Finance has also ruled out the reverse merger of IDBI Bank with IDBI. The...

KARNATAKA BANK OFFERS RESIDENT F/C ACCOUNT (with the Reserve Bank of India allowing residents to maintain foreign currency accounts).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Karnataka Bank of Mangalore has launched a new Resident Foreign Currency (domestic) Account with the Reserve Bank of India allowing residents to maintain foreign currency accounts. The account can be...

ICICI BANK TOPS IN RETAIL FINANCE (with a marketshare of 29 percent).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) ICICI Bank has gained leadership position in retail finance with a marketshare of 29 percent. It has garnered 34 percent share in the auto loans market; 30 percent share in the mortgage business; 32 percent...

PARLE PRODUCTS (planning on targeting the premium end of the biscuit industry).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Parle Products is planning on targeting the premium end of the biscuit industry. Leveraging on the brand appeal of its Parle-G biscuit brand, the company is planning to launch two new variants of...

SHAW WALLACE and CO (planning to refocus brand communication related to its Royal Challenge and Director's Special whiskies).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Shaw Wallace and Company (SWC) is planning to refocus brand communication related to its Royal Challenge and Director's Special whiskies, to build them as global properties. Royal Challenge holds a 56...

PIOMA INDUSTRIES (is looking to make its Rasna brand of drinks available at commercial and public places).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Pioma Industries is looking to make its Rasna brand of drinks available at commercial and public places. Looking at the ready- to-drink market, the company is planning on setting up 10,000 vending machines...

CAFE COFFEE DAY (is beginning to add food on its menu).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Cafe Coffee Day is looking to add food on its menu. The coffee bar is planning on serving wraps, lasagne, subs, quiches and Italian sandwiches like `ciabatta'. In addition, the store is also planning on...

PARLE AGRO (has introduced PET bottles of the Frooti mango tetra pack drink).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Parle Agro has introduced PET bottles of the Frooti mango tetra pack drink. The PET bottles now come priced at Rs12 for a 250ml bottle, Rs18 for 500ml and Rs28 for one-litre bottles. The Rs600- crore...

UNITED BREWERIES (is foraying into the world markets with its Celebration and Old Cask rum).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) United Breweries (UB) is foraying aggressively into the world markets with its Celebration and Old Cask rum. Initially the two rum brands will be sold in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK)...

HINDUSTAN LEVER LTD (has focused on ice cream products that cannot be copied).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) has focused on ice cream products that cannot be copied. The company has used the Unilever Worldwide technology in the recent introductions like Kwality Walls Double Sundae, Super...

MARS GROUP (is launching a cake and confectionery retail venture called Khazana).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Mars Group of restaurants is launching a retail venture called Khazana. The cake and confectionery store targets the middle class. The company will initially set up 50 stores in Mumbai, taking it up...

PROFILE OF THE CHORDIA GROUP (profit after tax of Rs4.11 crore in 2001-2002 rose to Rs7 crore in 2002-2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Chordia group, which started out as a real estate company, has moved into superluxury realty, entertainment and resorts. Panchshil Realty, a closely held company that was promoted by Atul Chordia and his...

PROFILE OF SUNTEC BUSINESS SOLUTIONS (company's products are to meet transaction processing and relationship management infrastructure requirements).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) SunTec Business Solutions Private Ltd specialises in convergence transaction billing. Since the first installation of the company's billing and accounting system in 1992, the number has crossed 200. The...

PROFILE OF MILESTONE INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE LTD (has a share of about 30% in the Rs40-crore Indian computer and video games industry).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Milestone Interactive Software Limited was set up in 1997 to become a leading provider of games and interactive entertainment software. The company now holds a market share of about 30 percent in the...

PROFILE OF CRICKETNEXT.COM (averages more than 300 million page views every month and is frequented by more than 5,00,000 registered users).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) CricketNext.com averages more than 300 million page views every month and is frequented by more than 5,00,000 registered users. The daily unique visitors amount to 3,00,000 on non-match days and about...

MCPI: ECO-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES (has framed the safety, health and environment policy).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The MCC PTA India Corp Private Limited (MCPI) has taken many measures to fight industrial pollution and to promote environmental protection. The leading PTA manufacturer has framed the safety, health and...

PROFILE OF CANARA BANK (total business size-advances plus deposits-amounted to Rs97,157 crore as on 31 Mar 2002).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Canara Bank's total business size-advances plus deposits-amounted to Rs97,157 crore as on 31 Mar 2002. The bank, which has been able to achieve growth through acquisitions, had a network of 2,409 branches,...

PROFILE OF TAIB BANK (TAIB had a $50 million private equity investment in several Indian companies).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) TAIB Bank, a Bahrain-based investment bank, has been in the business of offering investment opportunities in emerging markets. Globally, its services include asset management, brokerage services, corporate...

SHELTERING SENIOR CITIZENS (Vascon Engineers building a commune to cater to the specialised needs of India's senior citizens).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Vascon Engineers Private Limited is building a commune that caters to the specialised needs of India's senior citizens. The Golden Nest, which is following the science of Vastu, is to be located in Pune. The...

LUCRATIVE SAVING SCHEMES (of the Post Office).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) After Budget 2003-2004, the interest rates on post office saving schemes have come down from around 9-9.5 percent to between eight and 8.5 percent. Post office time deposit offers an annual interest rate of...

PCS INDUSTRIES: BIG STRIDE (the company is into software development and hardware).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) PCS Industries was one of the first Indian firms to launch RISC- based computing. The range of activities of the company includes software development and hardware, from high-end servers to networking...

PROFILE OF SYNTEL INDIA (provides information technology lifecycle solutions).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Syntel India provides information technology (IT) lifecycle solutions. It specialises in integrating innovative technology solutions and proprietary project management processes. The services include...

NOTEBOOK MARKET UNFOLDS (has grown 19% in the last year).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The notebook market of India has grown 19 percent over the last year, according to an IDC report. According to a MAIT-IMRB study, the sale of notebooks has come 70 percent from the four metros during the...

PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS CAN REGAIN MID-1990S EXPORT GROWTH RATE TO CENTRAL ASIA (export of drugs to Central Asia were worth $22.62 million in 2001-2002).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) A study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, shows that export of pharmaceutical products to Central Asian...

DRUG DISCOVERY BOUTIQUE SET UP (3 companies have formed the 'Life Sciences Alliance').
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Shasun Chemicals and Drugs Ltd (SCDL) of Chennai, Suven Pharmaceuticals Ltd (SPL) of Hyderabad and Innovasynth Technologies (India) Ltd (ITIL) of Mumbai have formed the `Life Sciences Alliance' with US-based...

HERBAL BIO VALLEY IN KERALA GETS CLOSER TO REALITY (the State Finance Minister has allocated a token Rs10 lakh for preliminary work on the project).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Kerala State Finance Minister has incorporated the Herbal Bio Valley project in the State budget proposals and has made a token allocation of Rs10 lakh for preliminary work on the project. The project,...

AILING INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE IN SEARCH OF A CURE (the Russian Indian Federation of Ayurveda has set up a 2,000-hectare farm near Moscow to cultivate herbs).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The traditional healthcare and food supplements industry in India is hampered by the lack of infrastructure and resources. Non-governmental organisations such as Utthan and the Russian Indian Federation of...

ABBOTT NET SALES UP BY 2.2% TO Rs82 CRORE (its net profit declined by 27% to Rs10.3 crore in the quarter ended Feb 2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Abbott India Ltd (AIL) registered a 2.2 percent hike in its net sales to Rs82 crore in the 3 months ended Feb 2003. Its raw material consumption increased by 35 percent to Rs19.4 crore. Its operating profit...

BHARAT BIOTECH TO DEVELOP VACCINES (for malaria, rotavirus and rabies).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) of Hyderabad is developing 3 new vaccines for the first time globally. The vaccines are for malaria, rotavirus and rabies. BBIL is developing the rabies vaccine on its...

INDIA TO PLAY A BIG PART IN ELI LILLY GLOBAL PLANS (Eli Lilly and Company to increase its procurement from Shasun Chemical and Drugs Ltd, Ranbaxy and Sun Pharma).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company (ELC) is likely to increase its procurement from Shasun Chemical and Drugs Ltd (SCDL), Ranbaxy and Sun Pharma. SCDL has bagged a large export order from ELC...

IPCA LABS PRODUCT PROFILE REVAMP MAY HELP GROWTH (it registered a 7% increase in its net sales to Rs123.56 crore in the 3 months ended 31 Dec 2002).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) IPCA Labs registered a 7 percent increase in its net sales to Rs123.56 crore in the 3 months ended 31 Dec 2002. Its exports increased by 2.6 percent to Rs61.55 crore, with its domestic sales rising by 12.5...

MOREPEN LABS, NIPER SIGN DEAL FOR RESEARCH PROGRAMME (the programme will focus on research in medicinal chemistry).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Morepen Laboratories has signed an accord for collaborative research programme with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). The programme will focus on research in...

NPIL TO LOSE MARKETING RIGHTS FOR 3 ROCHE DRUGS (it will have to share distribution rights with another partner of Roche's choice).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Nicholas Piramal (India) Ltd (NPIL) will lose its exclusive marketing and distribution tights for 3 products of Roche from Apr 2004. The products are cancer drugs (Neupogen and Roferon) and anti-viral drug,...

RANBAXY'S TNC PLAY, PROJECT $1 BILLION ON COURSE (its total revenues are slated to be $925 million in 2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The New Jersey-based Ranbaxy Pharma Inc will become the stronghold of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd (RLL) in the US in line with its plans of completing Project OB (1 billion) by 2004- 2004. The US accounts for 40...

RELIANCE LIFE TO BEGIN SKIN TRIALS (the products are in an advanced stage of development).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Reliance Life Sciences (RLS) is all set to start clinical trials on its genetically engineered skin products. The products are in an advanced stage of development and the trials will be conducted at multiple...

SERUM INSTITUTE EYES 20% BPH PIE (it has developed a medicine, branded Pyginal, extracted from the bark of a tree).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Serum Institute of India Ltd (SIIL) of Pune is targeting a 20 percent share of the benign prostrate hyperplasia (BPH) segment of the domestic pharmaceutical market during 2004-2005. The Indian BPH market...

SMS PHARMACEUTICALS TO FORAY INTO HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS (launching Fenudiet, a nutritional food supplement formulated to fight fibre deficiency and diabetes).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) SMS Pharmaceuticals Ltd (SPL) of Hyderabad is venturing into healthcare products. It is launching the first phase of natural healthcare products, which is the first of its kind dietary supplement for...

VIMTA FACES CHARGE OF DRUG TEST ON HUMANS (it uses migrant agricultural labour as human volunteers for doing bio-equivalence studies on drugs).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Vimta Labs of Hyderabad has been accused of using migrant agricultural labour as human volunteers for carrying out bio- equivalence (BE) studies on various drugs on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. Vimta...

L and T BAGS THE IIBE AWARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE ON HEMAVATHI RIVER (bridge built in 2001 is 10.5 metres wide).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Larsen and Toubro Limited's (L and T) Construction Division, Engineering Construction and Contracts Division (ECC), has secured an award from the Indian Institution of Bridge Engineers (IIBE). The company...

CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TRAINING INSTITUTE BY L and T (offers training in Formwork carpentry, Masonry, Bar bending and steel fixing and Plumbing and Sanitary).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Larsen and Toubro's (L and T) Construction Skills Training Institute is meant basically to meet L and T's demand for professionals. Other than supplying professionals meant for projects in India and abroad,...

PROFILE OF HYDERABAD INDUSTRIES LIMITED (annual turnover is about Rs300 crore).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Hyderabad Industries Limited belongs to the C K Birla group of companies that is known for its building products. The range of products manufactured includes fibre cement sheets, autoclaved aerated...

MOTHER DAIRY TIES UP WITH MILMA (agreement was signed by the two milk cooperatives, despite the opposition by Dr V Kurien).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Mother Dairy Foods Ltd (MDFL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board and Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), which owns the Milma brand, have entered into a...

MP-FRITO LAY PACT FOR CONTRACT FARMING (Madhya Pradesh plans to bring 28,000 hectares of land under contract farming for potatoes by 2008).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Madhya Pradesh State Agro Industries Development Corporation (MPAIDC) has signed an agreement with Frito Lay India Private Ltd (FLIP) for contract farming of potatoes. This forms part of its plans to...

NESTLE BLAMED FOR UNDERWEIGHT COFFEE PACKETS (50 gm packet found to weigh 2 gm less).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), a non-Government organisation (NGO) based in Ahmedabad, has found that the average net weight of 10 packets of Nescafe instant coffee, manufactured by Nestle...

INDIAN SHIPPING INDUSTRY (to be given preference for shipping of all government and public sector undertaking cargoes).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, plans to introduce an incentive scheme for the Indian Shipping Industry. The scheme proposes 10 percent freight subsidy on shipping of all government and public...

CAPITAL REVAMP PLAN FOR JNPT IN THE OFFING (to raise Rs500 crore from the bond market).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) plans to implement a capital restructuring programme (CRP) to enable it raise Rs500 crore from the bond market. The fund will be used to part-finance JNPT's...

CHARTERING A NEW COURSE (private players actively involved in chartering in India).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The end of the monopoly of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and the declining importance of Transchart in the chartering arena, has helped private players gain entry in chartering business. Other than...

GE SHIPPING: RIDING HIGH (posted a net profit to Rs93.1 crore during Jan-Mar 2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Great Eastern Shipping Company Limited (GESCL) posted a nine percent increase in revenues at Rs281.9 crore and a 285 percent hike in net profit at Rs93.1 crore during Jan-Mar 2003. In 2002- 2003, GESCL's...

RUN-UP TO DIVESTMENT (plans to invite bids for the privatisation of the Shipping Corporation of India).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Government of India plans to once again invite bids for the privatisation of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). The Government intends to divest 51 percent equity stake in SCI to a strategic...

STEELING THE SHOW (the hike in the global prices of steel boosts the Indian steel industry).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Indian steel industry is showing an upward trend owing to the hike in the prices of steel in the Indian and global markets. India's steel exports have increased by 32 percent during Apr-Dec 2002. The...

GOVERNMENT TO THE RESCUE (government sector stands fourth in terms of expenditure on information technology).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) According to Gartner, of the total expenditure of $12 billion on information technology (IT) in India in 2002, thirty-three percent was invested in the communications sector and 13 percent in the...

BUILDING A GLOBAL LEARNING CORPORATION. (Aptech Ltd has 2,449 training centres across 52 countries).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Aptech Limited (AL) has 2,449 training centres spread across 52 countries. AL offers its information technology (IT) training courses in English, Chinese, Spanish and Russian languages. It offers multimedia...

`INDIA IS A HIGH-GROWTH GEOGRAPHY FOR US' (according to Convergys' President).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Convergys, the world's largest contact centre, started its Indian operation in 2001 at Gurgaon. Convergys has set up a centre at Bangalore. The company employs 3,125 people in its Gurgaon centre and...

PUNE INFOTECH PARK, HINJEWADI: TRANSPORT WOES DOMINATE (the public transport system connecting Pune and the Park is not developed).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Pune Infotech Park (PIP) is set up on a hillock near Hinjewadi near Pune. PIP houses 27 companies. A high-capacity earth station provides point-to-point lease circuits and Internet connectivity to the...

TIDEL PARK, CHENNAI: BURSTING AT THE SEAMS (houses 28 companies).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Tidel Park (TP), Chennai, is an information technology park set up jointly by TIDCO and ELCOT. Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company of South Korea set up the park in 2000. There are 28 companies...

HI TECH CITY, MADHAPUR (HYDERABAD): MOVING ALONG SMOOTHLY (the third phase of the park likely to be operational by Jan 2004).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Hi Tech City (HTC), a technology park, was set up in 1997 in Hyderabad as a joint venture between Larsen and Toubro and the Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. Ascendas Pte Limited, business space...

ITPL, BANGALORE: HOT, HOT WITH FOREIGN COs (houses 46 multinational companies).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) ITPL, Bangalore, houses 120 companies, of which 46 are multinational companies. The companies operating in ITPL include AOL, Delphi, Automotive Systems, Deutsche Bank, General Motors and IBM Global...

VANENBURG TECH PARK, HYDERABAD (houses 10 companies with a seating capacity of 12,000 people).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Vanenburg Tech Park (VTP), set up in 2002, has been promoted by Jan Baan of the Netherlands. The park houses 10 companies including Invensys, Baan, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Surgical Information...

STORMING THEIR WAY TO FAME (two Indian students have developed innovative software).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Two Indian students, Aadhar Mittal and Tejeshwar Tandon Sangameshwaran, have developed two innovative software packages. Mittal, a 12th class student, has developed a project titled `artificial creation of...

IN THE PINK OF HEALTH (Indian hospitals are increasingly adopting information technology for hospital management).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Indian hospitals are increasingly adopting information technology for hospital management and telemedicine. Apollo Hospital, Chennai, has set up a Rs35-crore telemedicine project. The major Indian IT...

IT COSTS MONEY (Engineers India Limited uses information technology to increase efficiencies and reduce costs).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Engineers India Limited (EIL), a government undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has adopted information technology to increase its operational efficiencies and to reduce costs. EIL...

PSI DATA SYSTEMS (incurred a net loss of Rs18.06 crore in 2002-2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) PSI Data Systems (PDS), Bangalore, of the Birla Group was set up in 1976. Initially, PDS was involved in manufacturing of mainframes, Automated Teller Machines and providing software services to the...

WIPRO LIMITED: DREAMS FACE REALITY (net profit declined by 5% to Rs846.77 crore in 2002-2003).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The various units of Wipro Limited (WL), Bangalore, are involved in software services, product sales and implementation, health care, business process outsourcing (BPO), consumer care and lighting products....

`TRANSITION AS BUSINESS SOLUTION PROVIDER IS CRITICAL FOR US' (Business Objects has shifted focus from technology software to business solutions).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Business Objects (BO), involved the business intelligence industry, has shifted focus from technology software supplies to business solutions. This is because many companies are opting for entire business...

INFOTECH VINSRI MD C SURESH ARRESTED FOR Rs20-CRORE `RACKET' (for duping over 1,500 clients).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) C Suresh, Managing Director of Vinsri Infotech, Secunderabad, has been arrested for duping over 1,500 clients for an amount of Rs20 crore. He had collected non-refundable deposits between Rs2 lakh and Rs2.5...

RAMCO IN eTALK MODE (to provide products of eTalk in India, Malaysia and Singapore).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Ramco Systems (RS), provider of converged enterprise networking solutions, has tied up with eTalk, the global leader in the field of performance impact solutions. As per the tie-up, RS will provide the...

"VALUE MEASUREMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR STRATEGY" (JD Edwards conducts a value assessment before selling its products to customers).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) JD Edwards set up a wholly owned subsidiary, JD Edwards Software (India) in 2002. The company plans to invest Rs47 crore in its Indian operations by 2006. The company offers software solutions for...

NEW HORIZONS AND HANDS-ON TRAINING (have set up computer training institutes in India).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Multination education providers are tapping the corporate training and hands-on education segment in India. New Horizons (NH), a leading computer training company and HandsOn Technology and Engineering...

DO YOU HAVE WHAT I NEED? (the automation of the entire retail supply chain is yet to happen).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Most of the retail outlets in the organised retail sector in India have adopted information technology (IT) to automate their daily business activities. However, the automation of the entire supply...

FOODWORLD SUPERMARKETS (plans to implement datawarehousing and customer relationship management software).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Foodworld Supermarkets (FS) is involved in retailing of grocery products, fruits, vegetables, bakery and dairy products and general merchandise. FS has 86 outlets across India. The back-end software used...

SHEDDING THE `JUNK' TAG (growing health consciousness across the world has forced food majors to revamp their portfolios).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Growing health consciousness across the world has forced food majors to revamp their portfolios. PepsiCo India is expanding its Tropicana juice brand and adding non-fattening snacks and colas to its product...

PRIYAGOLD'S AGGRESSIVE MARKETING STRATEGY (plans a foray into south India).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Surya Food, which markets biscuits under the Priyagold brand, has embarked on a major marketing strategy to penetrate markets in south India. The company has strong presence in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and...

ROLL BACK OF EXCISE ON BRANDED EDIBLE OIL DEMANDED (by Vanaspati Manufacturers' Association).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Vanaspati industry has urged the Government of India to roll back the excise duty levied on branded vanaspati and refined edible oils, announced by the Government in its budget 2003-2004. Covering only...

NEW INITIATIVES FROM FOOD INDUSTRY IN SELECT CATEGORY (companies exploring various strategies to create competitive advantage for their products).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in India are exploring various strategies to create competitive advantage for their products. The strategies include cost advantage, differentiation and focus. The...

PICKLED BANANAS (NRCB imparts training in preparing pickle from immature bananas that would otherwise gone waste).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The National Research Centre on Banana (NRCB) imparts training in preparing pickle from immature bananas that would otherwise be considered waste. Farmers do not get a good price for immature bunches...

NOW LABELLED FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS (Delhi to set up a plant to label fruits and vegetables with stickers bearing expiry dates).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The Government of Delhi proposes to set up a plant to label fruits and vegetables with stickers bearing expiry dates. It proposes to float a global tender for the purpose. The plant will be located at...

`FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR NOT HIT BY DROUGHT' (the biscuit industry's production grew by 8% during 2002- 2003, says a survey by CII Agricultural Council).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) The drought has not hit the food-processing sector, which recorded moderate growth during 2002-2003. The biscuit industry recorded eight percent growth in production during 2002-2003 (5.5 percent in...

INDIANS PREFER AROMA-COLOUR OVER FLAVOUR-STRENGTH (consumers willing to pay 190% more for Darjeeling tea over the base tea category).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Indians consider aroma and colour as important attributes of tea. They do not consider flavour and strength as important attributes, as per a study by the Education Research Centre Ahmedabad. Professor Satish...

HFW MACHINES FROM MULTI PACK (MPSPL offers versatile flow wrap machines to cover products such as a single bun, in four frame sizes).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Multi Pack Systems Pvt Ltd (MPSPL) offers versatile flow wrap machines to cover products such as a single bun or cup cake to a pile of five pizza bases, in four frame sizes. The models are Small Frame,...

ITC LIFESTYLE RETAILING BUSINESS DIVISION (uses an end-to-end retailing software named Retail Pro).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) ITC Lifestyle Retailing Business Division (ILRBD) deals in apparels, including the famous brands of Wills Sports, Wills Classic, John Players. ILRBD has 48 Wills Lifestyle stores. It markets the...

MADURA GARMENTS (has implemented SAP enterprise resource planning software for back-end activities).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Madura Garments (MG) has retail outlets dealing in apparel brands, including Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, SF Jeans and Peter England. MG owns 74 exclusive brand outlets, 27 Planet Fashion...

PLANET SPORTS (has implemented an in-house software enterprise module).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Planet Sports (PS) is involved in retailing and distribution of apparel, footwear, toileteries and toys. PS owns seven Planet Sports outlets, three Marks and Spencer outlets and three Kid's Station...

SATYAM CINEPLEXES (has implemented total information management system from Pacercats of the UK).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Satyam Cineplexes (SM) is a cinema multiplex located in Delhi. SM has implemented total information management system (TIMS) from Pacercats of the UK. The TIMS handles ticketing and also online ticketing...

SHOPPER'S STOP (uses a B2B portal to integrate information technology with logistics and vendors).
May 31, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Shopper's Stop (SS) retails over 150 Indian and international brands of products ranging from apparels to accessories. SS has 13 retail outlets and four distribution centres. It has implemented JDA MMS, a...