• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

To cash in on demand for potato-based processed food products

New Delhi , June 22

In an attempt to grab a slice of the fast growing ready-to-eat segment, the Merino Group is foraying into the processed foods segment with its `potato mash' products.

"There is a huge demand for potato-based processed food products in the ready-to-eat segment and we want to cash in on this with our new range," Managing Director, Century Laminating Co Ltd, Mr Prakash Lohia said.

The product `Vegit Aloo Mash' (processed and dried potato flakes) is launched by the Agri-Division of the Century Laminating Company, a Merino Group entity, which has invested around Rs 15 crore in this business.

The product, which has been in the industrial segment for ayear, will now be available in the retail market in 120-g and 400-g packets with a shelf life of one year. The company has set up a manufacturing facility with imported equipment from the Netherlands. The plant has a capacity of processing 300 kg potatoes per hour, which in phases would be increased to 900 kg per hour.

Mr Lohia said that the company had earmarked around Rs 1.5 crore for marketing its product in the Capital, where it is being launched first. "We hope to take our product to the western and southern markets by the end of this fiscal," Mr Lohia said.

The Group has also set up a tissue culture laboratory in Uttaranchal and Harpur (Uttar Pradesh) for the development and multiplication of potato seeds and other seed varieties. The company has cultivated around 1000 acres of land currently through the cooperative farming method, employing around 400-500 farmers.

More Stories on : New Products & Services | Foods & Food Processing

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

Stories in this Section
LT Overseas plans to launch flavoured rice soon

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line