Cigarette manufacturer Godfrey Philips (GPL) is looking at a greater share of the king size segment with the launch of Stellar Slims, India's first slim cigarettes. | |
| Ajit Suryanarayan, executive vice-president of the new product development centre at Godfrey Phillips, said the product had been developed to offer "full satisfaction and low nicotine" to the consumer. |
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| A new line of machinery had been installed to manufacture the product, developed after two years of market study and research and development with an investment of Rs 20 crore, he added. |
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| Describing the new cigarettes, Suryanarayan said they were 22.12 mm thick against regular cigarette brands of 24.7 mm thickness. The company's multi-disciplinary product development had sourced a special low-nicotine tobacco variety, he said, adding Stellar Slims would have about 10 per cent less nicotine compared to other king size cigarettes. |
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| Suryanarayan said the 'slim' appeal has become popular worldwide and the segment was growing at a significant pace. "We want to target the prudent, classy, king size cigarette consumer who does not want to compromise on taste and flavour," he said. |
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| "The company will introduce Stellar Slims in key markets where the king size segment is growing at over 15 per cent per year. These will be about 40 in number all over the country," he said, adding that GPL is targeting sales of about 8 million sticks in the first year. With the addition of Stellar Slim, GPL would look at a 10 per cent market share in the king size segment which comprises 8 per cent of the entire tobacco market in India. |
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| The Rs 1400 crore Godfrey Phillips makes cigarettes brands like iGen, Four Square, Red & White, Cavenders and Jaisalmer. |
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