Indian Major Non -Alcoholic Beverages Companies Form IBA

NEW DELHI: Rivals Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have come together along with other beverages makers and bottlers to form the Indian Beverage Association (IBA), which will be the industry’s single point of interaction with the government and help companies comply with food safety guidelines and other regulations.

Juices maker Dabur, packaging company Tetra Pak, bottling companies Pearl Drinks and Bengal Beverages, energy drink maker Red Bull, and drip and sprinkler systems firm Jain Irrigation Systems too have joined the association, while about 30-40 others including Bisleri International, Parle Agro, Amul, Godrej, bottlers, vendors and suppliers are expected to join in due course.

“Non-alcoholic beverages are on a growth trajectory but so far there has not been a comprehensive organization representing the industry. We felt it’s time,” said Arvind Varma, secretary general of the association.

He said the organisation will be the non-alcoholic beverages industry’s single point of interaction with the food safety authority and ministry of health.

It will help members deal with challenges like complying with the food safety authority guidelines, double taxation, VAT, state-level controversies like allegations of water depletion (as is the case with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo), sugar imports, spurious drinks and more.

“IBA’s formation has been triggered by the two cola companies, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, since they are the one’s facing maximum flak from regulators — whether it’s VAT in Delhi, charges of water depletion in Kerala or being perceived as only making sugary fizzy drinks by health activists,” said an official directly involved with the association.

Earlier this year, the Delhi government increased VAT on soft drinks from 12.5% to 20% on the category, but companies have not increased prices for fear of impacting demand. They have been lobbying with Delhi CM Shiela Dixit for a rollback because they believe the current taxation would ‘reverse their growth cycle’.

Several beverage makers, bottlers and suppliers ET spoke to said they would join the IBA.

The Indian Soft Drinks Manufacturers Association (ISDMA), represented by the two cola companies, is also being merged with the IBA.

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Amul Ranked No - 1 Indian Brand In Asia Pacific

ANAND: Amul has maintained its position as number one 'Indian' brand in Asia Pacific for the second consecutive year in the list of top 1,000 brands released by 'Media Magazine' published from Hong Kong and Singapore, a Amul official release said today.

Amul is also ranked as no. 1 dairy brand, ahead of leading food and dairy brands of the Asia Pacific region like Kraft, Dutch Lady, Dumex, Walls, Anchor, Magnolia and Everyday.

The magazine survey has ranked Amul as the 73rd best brand in its ranking of Top 1,000 brands of Asia-Pacific based on a consumer survey conducted in Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Amul's ranking has jumped from 83rd in 2009 to 73rd this year, an official at Amul said adding "there is no other 'Indian' brand in the list of Top 1,000 brands ahead of Amul."

"Asia Pacific's top 1,000 brand listing is based on a proprietary survey conducted by Media Magazine which is sponsored by the Wall Street Journal," a official at Amul said.


Source
Dt-07-07-2010
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/Amul-ranked-No-1-Indian-Brand-in-Asia-Pacific/articleshow/6140009.cms