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CHENNAI, Dec. 17

THE Home Appliances Business Group (HABG) of BPL Ltd has recorded a volume growth of 92 per cent year-to-date for the current financial year (2002-2003) of around 1.25 lakh appliances, according to a press release.

This is attributed to the increased sales of refrigerators and washing machines during the festive season.

During this festive season (October 2002), refrigerator sales grew by 190 per cent over the same period last year (October 2001). The frost-free refrigerator category recorded growth of 335 per cent while the direct cool category grew at 189 per cent, the press release claimed. BPL Home Appliances is the first company in India to convert its entire range of refrigerators fully to non-CFC technology, it added.

In the washing machine category, BPL recorded a growth of more than 80 per cent (October 2002) this year as over the same period, last year, (October 2001). While the washing machine market in India stagnated, sales of BPL's washing machines increased by seven per cent this year (April - October 2002) over the same period the previous year, the press release said. The new models, Flamingo and Swan, contributed to this growth.

Mr. L. H. Bhatia, Chief Operating Officer, BPL HABG, was quoted as saying, "Stagnant industry growth not withstanding, we are planning to more than double the sales turnover from current levels by the end of next year."

BPL HABG claims to have utilised the stagnating home appliances industry during fiscal 2001-02 towards realigning its product portfolio. It expects to close the year with a market share of 7-8 per cent in the home appliances category.

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