Whirlpool India has forayed in the commercial appliance segment and is eyeing a 5-per-cent market share in the next 18 months..
The company is bringing its European product range to India which includes dishwashers, ovens and ice makers.
These appliances are expected to be installed in hotels, institutes, restaurants, bars and hospitals.
The company estimates that the B2B market size for kitchen equipment in India is about ₹1,900 crore, while laundry equipment is pegged at ₹5,000 crore.
In a statement, Sunil D’Souza, MD, Whirlpool of India, said: “With the number of restaurants, hotels, institutes, hospitals and food service businesses growing in the country, we see huge opportunity for commercial appliances in India….. We are foraying into the kitchen equipment market of the commercial industry initially and eyeing a total of 5 per cent market share.”
The company said it has partnered with distributors and food service consultants and will launch the product range initially in larger cities such as Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Pune, and will expand to other cities in a phased manner.