by S. Kenneth Shishir
Mysore :
Sweets and Toffees may be items of impulse-purchase, competing with other categories like soft drinks, snacks and beverages for a share of the consumer’s wallet, but modern trade and other factors have had a positive impact on consumer spending.
VINAY PRODUCTS, manufacturers of sugar boiled confectioneries in city have struggled hard to make a name in the field of candy, toffee and sugar boiled sweets manufacturing.
This confectionery industry indulges consumers’ desire for sweets in various flavours such as Mango, Cookies, Paan, Orange and Strawberry among others.
A. Sunil Kumar, one of the partners, speaking to Star of Mysore, said that the industry has four partners including him and before they ventured into manufacturing of sweets, they were the distributors for companies like Mangharam & Sons and The Ravalgaon Sugar Farm Ltd., to understand the working conditions of the market.
He said that during that time, they felt that there was a gap in the market and felt that an industry to manufacture the same was needed in Mysore. So he, along with his two brothers A. Anil Kumar and A. Rajesh and their uncle K. Susheel Babu (First generation entrepreneurs) ventured into manufacturing and established Vinay Products at Hebbal Industrial Area in 1994 to give quality sweets to people.
Sunil said that prior experience in the field of manufacturing confectioneries helped them establish the industry.
Though initially they faced many hurdles and hiccups, they overcame the hurdles to establish a name in the market.
Some of the varieties manufactured by them are fruit flavours, milk based candies, lollipops and toffees, Eclairs and Pan coated sweets (Sugar coated on Nuts, Jeera & saunf).
When asked Sunil about the types of confectionery products, he said that confections are typically classified by the basic ingredients of chocolate, sugar or flour. Within these categories are a wide variety of products, including hard candies, gums, toffees, cakes, pastries and truffles which are offered in a vast range of flavours, including chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, peppermint, cinnamon and many fruit flavours.
Not only children, adult consumption of chocolates and candies is also growing at the fastest pace in the country, said Sunil.
Sunil said that confectioneries manufactured by them are in the standards prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The raw materials which are purchased for manufacturing are bought only after the supplier gives them a QC (Quality Check) certificate and the materials are once again tested in their laboratory at the factory before being sent for manufacturing. Their commitment to hygiene is given more prominence which I saw during my visit to this industry.
Earlier, this industry manufactured sweets for Campco, Kwality Biscuits, Cavin Kare for mouth fresheners and the company was briefly associated with Dabur for manufacturing digestives. Presently, they are manufacturing mints for Cafe Coffee Day.
Sunil further said that they are in talks with Lotte, a Korean company based in Chennai for manufacturing Eclairs & toffees.
With the next generation (the children of the partners — Vinay, Mohit, Rahul and Rohit) entering into the business, the company is planning to come out with sugar free products in future. R&D is on to come out with toffee bars & cocoa based products which are quite popular in the market.
The sweets manufactured by Vinay Products are being sold in Tamil Nadu and Kerala apart from the State of Karnataka.
Speaking about taxes levied on such industries, Sunil said that the taxes levied on Confectionery in Karnataka are very high, that is the tax in Karnataka is 14.5% whereas other States charge 5.5% for local industries and an appeal in this regard has been submitted to the Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to consider reduction in taxes. If the taxes are reduced more industries can come up in Karnataka which will increase the job opportunities for the locals.
Vinay Products has its own retail point at Mannars Market, Shivarampet under the name of Universal Agencies.
Over the years the company has ventured into the manufacturing of packing materials in the name of Universal Products catering to the packaging materials requirement of the industries in South India.
The industry, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) supports Old Age Homes, Orphanages and is also involved in many programmes in bringing the downtrodden into the mainstream society.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / February 01st, 2014