Switz Foods Turnover At Rs 9.2 Crore

The Calcutta-based confectioners Switz Foods Pvt Ltd (SFPL), manufacturers of Monginis brand of products, has posted an impressive Rs 9.2-crore sales turnover in 1996-97 as against the previous year's Rs 5.35 crore.

The company expects sales to jump to Rs 14 crore by the end of the current fiscal.

SFPL is planning to promote its own brand of products and expand its network by setting up manufacturing units in Siliguri, Bhubaneswar and Jamshedpur. The company has approached the West Bengal Small Industries Corporation(WBSIC) for a suitable plot to house its unit in Siliguri.

SFPL, which manufactures biscuits and chocolates under the Switz brands, also has plans to diversify into products like cookies and market it under its own brand name.

 

Plans are also afoot to enter into poultry farming in a big way, said Arnab Basu, director, Switz Foods. "Currently we process more than 330 kg of chicken and use 14,000 eggs a day," he said.

SFPL, which started operations in December 1991 as the eastern region franchisee of Monginis Foods (MFL), Mumbai, has grown rapidly over the years with the eastern region alone accounting for nearly 40 per cent of MFL turnover. Monginis Foods is a part of the Khorakiwala group of companies. The other group companies being Wockhardt pharmaceuticals and Akberallys chain of stores.

SFPL pays three per cent royalty on sales turnover to MFL.

SFPL currently manufactures a variety of cakes, biscuits and baked products, which are mostly sold under the Monginis brand.

Amid competition from older players like Kathleen, Koolie Jar, Upper Crust, Flurry's and others, SFPL has garnered a market share of nearly 40 per cent in and around Calcutta.

Sales rose from Rs 53.28 lakh in 1991-92 to Rs 1.34 crore in 1992-93. In 1994-95 sales more than doubled to Rs 2.84 crore