The Hindu Business Line : Taurus plans to make India Asia Pacific hub

Spanish appliances major Taurus Group, which acquired Inalsa Home Appliances in October 2004, is mulling the possibility of making its India operations a hub for the Asia Pacific region.

According to Mr Jitendra Chauhan, General Manager, Tuareg Marketing (a subsidiary of the Taurus Group), the company is studying markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Thailand for exporting its small appliances such as food processors and blenders. "India could emerge as a manufacturing base for these countries", he said.

Currently Taurus, which also makes home appliances, has manufacturing bases in Spain, Brazil and India.

Turnover target

Meanwhile, Inalsa Home Appliances is focusing on growing its share in the Rs 2,000-crore small appliances segment in the country and is targeting a turnover of Rs 50 crore this year and Rs 100 crore by the next fiscal.

"We will be strengthening our product range in each of the categories we operate in as well as introduce new products. We have identified three major categories that we will be focusing on - microwave ovens, cooking hoods and geysers. Further we are aiming to consolidate our position in the South," Mr Chauhan said.

Inalsa will be rolling out about 20-25 new models in various categories by April.

It has also introduced a range of new products this fiscal and is mulling the possibility of introducing products such as electric shavers, epillators, and hair stylers.

It may also introduce other brands owned by the Taurus Group such as Mallory and Taurus to address the premium end of the small/home appliances market. At present Inalsa claims a market share of 60 per cent in the branded food processors market in the country with the category accounting for 40 per cent of the company's sales.

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