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INTERVIEW :PRADEEP PODDAR

'Our aim is to offer a better mineral water experience'


Posted: 2008-06-26 00:14:32+05:30 IST
Updated: Jun 26, 2008 at 0014 hrs IST

: as we grow rather than make an upfront investment. We would rather take a step at a time. Water is a big initiative for us. But it is not only plain water that we are looking at, but also functional, flavoured, enhanced and fortified water. We would like to straddle every end of the water pyramid. So, it becomes important to understand the needs of the consumer and to treat him or her as a moving target.

In my opinion Maslow’s hierarchy of needs flattens out into a continuum where self actualisation vies for attention with basal needs. This is a global trend. It therefore becomes imperative to tie up with the consumer at different points in his life to take advantage of this phenomenon.

How serious are you about inorganic growth?

We are very serious about it. We are looking at both organic and inorganic growth. If there are good targets in wide geographies, we would consider them if it gives us access into those markets.

So you are not shying away from acquisitions after the Glaceau experience?

I don’t think so. We are not shying away from anything.

Will you at any stage contemplate an entry into fruit juices and energy drinks, which belong to the wellness domain?

It is still early days. We have just relaunched Himalayan in Mumbai. We intend taking it to other parts of the country. But we are keeping our options open on allied products. We have not yet taken a call on it....

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Comments
» Top Management
Posted by Ravi on 2008-08-18 16:01:27.762651+05:30
Mr Poddar is a man with a lot of experience mainly in marketing. He inherited brands in Heinz like Farex, Nycil, Glaxo Sunshine. All the brands are either dead or sold off. He launched Heinz Ketchup with much fan fare. It was priced at a 20% premium over other "desi" brands like Maggi and Kissan. Much like what he has done with the Tata water brand. But then Heinz had to quickly reduce its price to even make its presence felt to even the rich Malabar Hill households. He tried to build value through ads but consumers especially the younger generation quickly saw through the "marketing" gimmick and rejected it. A mineral water which has its source in Himalaya should not include the return ticket fare along with the bottle. Though the ad is good but why should we pay more because of the cost of the ad and the salary of the top Mgt. Anyway the previous owner of the brand has done enough to spread awareness that this water is bottled from the natural springs. Moreoever by definition water can not be niche neither unaffordable. And kindly please do not distribute water like you do Complan and Ketchups. You will end up making a widely available natural resource a scarce commodity and we will all die of thirst with wad of notes in our wallets not knowing where we should look for Himalaya

» Natural Mineral Water in India
Posted by Roomy Naqvy on 2008-06-27 04:17:55.352597+05:30
I have tried Himalayan, Catch, Evian, which are brands of natural mineral water and I have tried Kinley, Aquafina, Bisleri at home. Evian is excellent but extremely costly. I also got to drink Ava, which is also natural mineral water but it isn't available in New Delhi. Ava was nice as well. Himalayan is pretty good but the prices have gone up after the Tata acquisition.www.roomynaqvy.com

» Natural Mineral Water in India
Posted by Roomy Naqvy on 2008-06-27 04:17:45.107856+05:30
I have tried Himalayan, Catch, Evian, which are brands of natural mineral water and I have tried Kinley, Aquafina, Bisleri at home. Evian is excellent but extremely costly. I also got to drink Ava, which is also natural mineral water but it isn't available in New Delhi. Ava was nice as well. Himalayan is pretty good but the prices have gone up after the Tata acquisition.www.roomynaqvy.com

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