Bisleri plans to re-enter soft drinks business next year

Bisleri International, bottled water is looking to re-enter the soft drinks business early next year as part of its plans to clock a turnover of over Rs 2,000 crore by 2020.

The company, which is making a comeback in soft drinks segment after over two decades, has earmarked a budget of around Rs 100 crore for the new venture, reported PTI.

"Bisleri, as a company by 2020, should be more than Rs 2,000 crore. The growth will come with expansion of business (into new areas) such as soft drinks," R K Garg, Bisleri International Director mentioned.

During 2014-15 fiscal, Bisleri had a turnover of about Rs 700 crore and is growing at a range of 20-25 per cent, he said. Now, "We have plans to launch soft drinks in early 2016. For expansion of the company, we have to diversify. We were in that business for a long time and now we are coming in that with different flavors", Garg said.

Bisleri promoter Ramesh Chauhan had sold five popular brands Thums Up, Limca, Gold Spot, Maaza and Citra to global beverage major Coca Cola in 1993. Both parties had entered into a non-compete agreement, which expired in 2008.

"There is no clash with it now", Garg said, adding that Bisleri International would invest around Rs 100 crore in rolling out the new soft drinks.

Company plans to introduce the soft drinks in lemon, spicy, mango and pina colada flavours. It is looking at manufacturing these products in at least its five locations. On the company's overall growth, Garg said the company expects an increase from non-metro markets. Presently, metro markets contribute around Rs 300 crore to Bisleri's total sales.

Moreover, Bisleri is also planning to ramp up production of Vedica and expand its export market.