Low Margins Curtails Production of Glucose, Marie & Milk Biscuits
Low Margins Curtails Production of Glucose, Marie & Milk Biscuits

The Rs.36,000 crore Indian Biscuit Industry has demanded complete waiver on Good & Services Tax on ‘Low Price High Nutrition’ (LPHN) Biscuits priced under MRP Rs.100/- per Kg.

As per Mayank Shah - Vice President & Spokesperson of the ‘Biscuit Manufacturers Welfare Association,LPHN biscuits are the only hygienically produced affordable snack sold in small packs retailing at Rs.2/- to Rs.5/-. Consumed mainly by low income group, any increase in price of LPHN biscuits causes a direct reduction in demand. While there is a 62% weighted average hike in input costs (Maida, Sugar and Vegetable Oil) over the last decade the Biscuit Manufacturers have been unable to increase their realisation pro-rata.”

Glucose Biscuits offer consumers 72 Kilo Calories/ Per Rupee compared to 55 by Bread, 18 by Potato Chips and 29 by Namkeens. All three enjoy concessional rate of taxes. A 70 gram pack of Glucose Biscuits which retails at Rs.5/- offers 315 K calories which is about 16% of the daily dietary recommend allowances by the government.

Last year the Biscuit Industry procured agriculture produce of over Rs.13,300 crore. Sugar prices have more than doubled in the last decade and current wheat flour & vegetable oil prices make net margins on LPHN biscuits reduced to just 3%. Fear of an advent of negative margins phase forces manufacturers to curtail production, leaving demand un-satiated. Glucose Biscuits retailed at Rs.70/- per Kg today, attracting net taxes of Rs.7.21, which is higher than the value addition earned by the industry (Rs.7.01 only).

Mayank Shah explained, “The Government may tax all Premium Biscuits as they deem fit and we are a highly compliant industry with last annual contribution to the exchequer at Rs.3075 crore. However, on behalf of over 600 manufacturers of Low Price High Nutrition Biscuits retailed at up to MRP of Rs.100/- per Kg, I urge the GST Council to completely exempt LPHN Biscuits.”

 
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Parle Products announces winners of 14th Parle Saraswati Vandana
Parle Products announces winners of 14th Parle Saraswati Vandana
 

Parle Products, one of India’s pioneers in the biscuit and confectionary manufacturing segment, has announced winners of 14th Parle Saraswati Vandana.

Each year, Parle Products organises 'Saraswati Vandana' in the state during Saraswati Puja, inviting schools to participate in a competition.

The evening was attended by students and teachers from various schools across West Bengal. 

Schools, their faculty and students were appreciated and felicitated with certificates and cash prizes. The winning school, La Maternelle High School, Kolkata won first place and a prize money of Rs 30,000, the second prize went to Udaypur Haradayal Nag Adarsha Vidyalaya, Belghoria and Hindu School, Kolkata who won Rs 15000 each.

Rani Binode Manjari Govt Girls School , Ashalata Basu Vidyalaya , Jodhpur Park Boys School , Belur Girls'  High (H.S.) School and Saidabad Manindra Chandra Vidyapith were third place winners, the prize being Rs 10,000 each.

“We  organize this event around Saraswati Puja not only because this is celebrated in most of the schools through the state, but also to connect and educate students about the culture and festivities in  innovative and creative ways. This is our 14th year and we are delighted with the response we have received and sincerely thank the schools for their participation,” said Bhavin Panchamia, Senior Product Manager, Parle Products.

This year, Parle Products Ltd. invited over 600 schools from cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol, Kharaghpur, Midnapore, Serampore, Chinsura, Chandannagar, Baruipir, Belghoria, Madhyamgram, Barrackpore, Burdwan, Bolpur, Krishnanagar, Behrampur, Malda, Ranaghat, and Raigunj.

 

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