Date:31/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/31/stories/2007083151830500.htm

Back Sabols eyes soda, fruit juice segments

L.N. Revathy

Coimbatore, Aug. 30 Having established itself in the packaged drinking water business, Sabols plans to launch value-added products such as soda and fruit juices. Disclosing this to Business Line, the Sabols Chairman Mr K.M. Senthil, said the company would roll out Sabols Soda within the next fortnight, followed by fruit drinks such as mango, grape and orange by end-September.

While these health drinks would be launched from Sabols, they will have a different brand name. Preferring to keep the name under wraps for now, he said ‘we are getting the trademark rights.’

The company is also planning to introduce Sabols packaged drinking water in 300 ml cups in a week’s time.

Packaged drinking water

It has five plants in Tamil Nadu for making packaged drinking water. “Our Chennai facility is the largest, with a capacity of 10,000 litres/hour. The investment on this plant alone was close to Rs 2 crore,” he said.

Sabols has established a separate plant for making of juices. This, however, has been proposed only out of its Chennai facility.

The company recently introduced Sabols packaged drinking water in Bangalore and the Hyderabad launch is slated in December.

Sabols at present commands a market share of 25 per cent in Tamil Nadu, but Mr Senthil is aggressively trying to strengthen its presence.