Tilaknagar Industries plans to invest Rs 100 crore in expanding its operations in Andhra Pradesh. It will also launch its Mansion House brand whisky in Andhra .Pradesh and Karnataka in February.

The investment is the capex plan. The company wants to expand the Prag distillery in Rajamundry and was awaiting the nod from the State Government said Mr Amit Dahanukar, Chairman and Managing Director of the Mumbai-based company. The company is upbeat following the favourable judgment on the ownership of the trademark of Mansion House and Savoy Club brands.

The trademark was transferred to it by UTO Nederland in the 1980s, but with the brand gaining market share, especially in brandy in the 1990s, the Dutch company lay claims again.

More launches

Stating this Mr Amit told Business Line that the Mansion House whisky brand was recently launched in Maharashtra. The brand to be positioned in the semi-premium segment such as Seagram's Royal Stag will be launched in Eastern India in the near future.

The strategy now is to leverage the brand advantage and bring several brands under the Mansion House umbrella.

“Adding new flavours and new brands will keep us growing in the competitive market. Already “Our Mansion House brandy is the second largest globally,” he said.

On the expansion front, the Rs 1,300-crore, Tilaknagar Industries has invested Rs 300 crore in two distilleries in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra during 2011. “We hope to grow at 20 per cent during the next fiscal. There were pressures on margins this year, but we hope to close current fiscal with a turnover of Rs 1,500 crore,” he said.

About exports, he said Tilaknagar is looking at partnerships to grow in Africa and a few other countries for its brandy and whisky, he said.

soma@thehindu.co.in

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