Unibic launches cookies in Hyd

Australian speciality biscuits manufacturer, Unibic Australia, has entered the Hyderabad market with two cookie brands "� Anzac and Bradman.

The A$100-million company has already marked its presence in the southern and western markets of the country and its products are now available in Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala, Pune and parts of Maharashtra apart from Hyderabad.

Addressing a press conference, D D Saxena, managing director, Unibic Biscuits India Private Limited said, "We have set up a Rs 15-crore manufacturing facility in Bangalore that will cater to the Indian and international markets."

The company has a presence in Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK and Canada. The manufacturing facility in Bangalore is its first outside India.

Unibic India has the exclusive rights to use cricket legend Don Bradman's name for its chocolate chip cookies. The company pays a royalty for the use of this name.

Speaking on the Indian biscuit market, Saxena said, "We are a speciality biscuit brand and the market for such biscuits in India is growing. We are looking at a national presence by the end of 2005 and are optimistic about becoming a Rs 100-crore company five years from now."

Unibic Australia currently manufactures 25 varieties of products ranging from speciality biscuits to pastries. It has launched two products in India and is looking at launching more in the coming years.

"We may launch some India-specific products in the future as well," Saxena added.

Unibic India employs around 130 people, both on-site and on-field. It has earmarked a marketing programme for its products through school outreach programmes, in-pack promotions and contests. The company has also put in place plans to organise 3,000 limb replacements besides training 5,000 war widows through contribution from its sale proceeds.

"While three per cent of sale proceeds from Anzac cookies will be used for limb replacements for Indian jawans and war widow training, two per cent of sale proceeds from Bradman cookies will go towards the development of underprivileged children," Saxena said.