The Hindu Business Line : Pantaloon Retail ties up with Ruchi Soya

Pantaloon Retail (I) Ltd (PRIL), a part of the Future Group, announced its alliance with Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd (RSIL) to expand the refined edible oil business through its Food Bazaar outlets. The two companies will look at creating premium products and brands and test market them at Food Bazaar outlets.

In addition, RSIL will also create exclusive private labels under the `Fresh and Pure' brand at competitive prices for Food Bazaar. `Fresh and Pure', Pantaloon Retail's private label brand, already sells items like flour (atta), ghee and butter, and will be including cheese in its portfolio in the next few weeks.

Edible Oil

"The alliance will provide us the platform to showcase our branded portfolio through Pantaloon's pan-India presence. This tie-up will help us cater to the growing demand for FMCG products and reap the benefits of rising disposable incomes," said Mr Dinesh Shahra, Managing Director, RSIL. "Edible oil is emerging as a very important category for Food Bazaar accounting for more than 10 per cent of its revenues. Edible oils as a category can be expanded to about 15 per cent of the total category by partnering and experimenting with a large oil player. This involves packaging innovations, private labels and new product developments," said Mr Damodar Mall, President, Food Business, PRIL.

Outlets

Pantaloon has also tied up with three other companies, S.R. Foils, Fun Foods (makers of dips and sauces) and the Chaudhary Group, producers of Wai Wai noodles, for retail through Food Bazaar outlets.

S.P. Foils will supply products like paper napkins, aluminium foils and tissue rolls under Pantaloon's private label, while the other two along with Ruchi will find priority placement at the stores. Pantaloon Retail also plans to open salad bars in three or four stores with Fun Foods as a pilot project.

On the expansion front, Pantaloon plans to open 40 more Big Bazaar outlets by June 2007, in addition to the current 30. Mr Mall expects the group to clock Rs 4,000 crore turnover this fiscal ending June 2007, with the food section standing at Rs 1,000 crore.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
`VLCC set to acquire domestic FMCG firm'

Pantaloon Retail ties up with Ruchi Soya

SET appoints creative biz partners

Apparel brand Stori on expansion mode

Samsonite to expand retail presence

GKB Opticals opens showroom in Vizag

Satyapaul collection back in Hyderabad

VLCC opens health food chain

Raymond unveils Chairman's Collection in South