The Hindu Business Line : Anna group plans expansion at Kizhakkambalam

THE Kerala-based Anna group, manufacturers of aluminium vessels, as part of its expansion programme, will set up an aluminium alloy plant and a readymade garment unit involving a total investment of around Rs 19 crore at nearby Kizhakkambalam.

The Group is also planning to merge its various subsidiaries in to two entities with a view to listing them on stock exchanges in the near future. The company would appoint a consultant to advise on the modality to be followed, Mr Bobby Jacob, Managing Director, Anna group of companies, told Business Line.

"We are thinking of merging the textile units, Kitex Ltd, Schoobeeday weaving unit here and Chacks Weaving unit in Coimbatore into one company while Anna Aluminium, Saras Curry Powder, Anna Alloys and Chackson Pressure Cookers into another," he said.

Both these companies would be listed.The first group has a total investment of Rs 45 crore while the second Rs 50 crore, he said.

Considering the growing demand for aluminium alloys, the company had decided to set up a 10-tonne-per-day alloy unit involving an investment of Rs 4 crore, he said.

Similarly, given the increasing export enquiries for readymade garments, the Group had decided to set up a garments manufacturing unit with 400 sewing machines at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore.

Both the units will come up in Kizhakkambalam village, where the Group currently provides direct employment to around 7,000 people, he said. The project reports of these units are ready, he said. Meanwhile, it has already commissioned a Rs15-crore automatic weaving unit in Coimbatore recently.

He said that according to a recent survey recently Anna Groups' Anna Aluminium, Kitex, Schoobeeday, Saras and Chackson were among the first 13 popular brands in Kerala, he said.

He said that the company's products are in good demand in the Gulf Countries where Keralites are concentrated.

"There is a good market in the Gulf for certain traditional products such as "Uruli", thermal cooker, multi-steamer used for cooking "Puttu", "Idly" etc."

Exports constitute 10 per cent of its total sales turn over of Rs 35 crore last fiscal. During the current year, the company expects it to go up to Rs 40 crore, Mr Bobby said.

The unit requires 150 tonnes of aluminium ingots. The raw material is procured mainly from Nalco and Hindalco. However, depending upon the price it is also imported, he said.

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