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Aims Rs 150-crore sales this year

Our Bureau

Chennai , July 1

The Bangalore-based Vardhman Group plans to import air-conditioners by next year.

These will be split type air-conditioners ranging from 0.8 tonne to three tonnes, said Mr K.S. Ranganath, General Manager of Stovekraft, a home appliances brand within the Group. He added that talks were on for potential partners in this venture.

He was in the city in connection with the launch of Stovekraft's luxury brand, Gilma.

Gilma offers a range of kitchen appliances that includeelectric chimneys, hobs, cook tops (stoves), and a digital microwave oven.

The prices vary from Rs 2,000 to Rs 29,990. The company also launched a massage chair that is available at an introductory price of Rs 89,990.

Sales touched Rs 100 crore in 2005-06; the company is targeting Rs 150 crore this year, said Mr Ranganath.

Of this, Rs 20 crore is expected to come from the Gilma brand.

Gilma range

The company launched the Gilma range in Bangalore in February and has sold about 3,200 chimneys and 800 hobs so far. The company expects sales worth Rs 75 lakh from Chennai over the next six months.

Gilma will be launched in Hyderabad in July and there are plans to launch the brand in six more States, including Delhi by 2007. The company is also looking at exporting Gilma and its Pigeon range (a value-for-money brand of Stovekraft). Currently, the Pigeon range is available in Asia and South Africa.

The company plans to have 10 franchisee outlets in Chennai. Talks are on with health centres, gyms, and doctors, to market and sell the massage chair.

More Stories on : Outlook | Home Appliances

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