Hamdard Laboratories Ltd, a company known for its Unani, health and wellness products and beverages, plans to set up its fourth manufacturing unit in the country in the western region to meet its expansion plans.

The company, which was established in 1906 by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, has three manufacturing units in Delhi, Manesar and Ghaziabad, all located near Delhi. It has now identified a site near Aurangabad for its fourth manufacturing facility. “This will see investment of about Rs 30-40 crore,” Mansoor Ali, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Hamdard, told BusinessLine .

“As a company that has expanded its range of products and has been introducing new ones, we are considering another manufacturing unit in the South to cater to the growing requirements,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines after the launch of Rooh Afza Fusion, a ready-to-drink beverage in an easy-to-consume pack, he said, “This is a non-aerated drink available in several flavours. The non-aerated drinks market is expanding at a rapid pace and the launch fits in well with the way people, particularly youth, look at juices,” he said.

The company, which closed the last financial year with a turnover of Rs 700 crore, has registered a compounded annual growth rate of over 20 per cent. Of the total business, 12 per cent comes from exports.

“We had pilot launched the Fusion range in September in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. After it was well received in the market, we are gradually introducing it across the country through a chain of over 70,000 outlets,” he said.

“The launch phase saw sales of over 9 lakh units in the first month and the consumer offtake was positive. Now we are launching in a number of flavours,” he said.

Of the country's softdrinks market of Rs 28,000 crore, about Rs 10,000 crore is from aerated drinks and Rs 18,000 crore is from the non-aerated market, growing at 24 per cent.

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