KUOK GROUP COMING
TO INDIA WITH PACKAGED FOOD
The Kuok Group of Singapore, owned by Forbes billionaire tycoon
Robert Kuok, is now entering India with a slew of brands for
foods ranging from edible oils and milk products, to biscuits,
flour, packaged water, sugar, beverages, and vanaspati.
That should change the market dynamics
for other new MNC players like Cargill, Bunge, and Archer
Daniel Midlands, who are struggling to gain a toe-hold in
the Indian packaged foods market. And the fight could well
be to the finish as Kuok has deep pockets, wide experience,
and just emerged as the top retailer of branded cooking oil
in China.
The Singapore-based group has already
registered three brands - Simply K, and Blue Team - in India,
through its subsidiary Kuok Oils and Grains Pte Ltd. Their
launch is expected by the end of this year.
KOG is a leading trader, supplier and
exporter of edible oils, and their by-products in the global
market. The Kuok Group is a diversified conglomerate whose
business interests include trading, finance, property, media
like the South China Morning Post newspaper, hotels like the
Shangri-La chain, shipping, manufacturing, and retail. The
group's businesses span Asia, Western Pacific Rim and Canada.
Kuok's investments include an integrated
network of oil refineries, plantations and packaging factories.
The Kuok group already has a joint venture company in India,
Liberty Agri Products, in collaboration with Liberty Oil Mills.
However, it is not yet certain whether the new brands will
be introduced through this existing venture or by Kuok independently.
In case it seeks to take the independent entry route, Kuok
will have to first seek a no-objection certificate from its
existing partner.
To ensure that it has a clear understanding
of the Indian packaged foods market, Kouk is now conducting
market research in several metro and sub-metro locations.
It is also trying to zero-in on processing capacities that
could be hired to support its brands across the country. Sources
said a Kuok team was in north India last week to inspect the
facilities available. Liberty Oil Mills is expected to cater
to Kuok's market in the western region of the country. Industry
watchers say, meanwhile, that Kuok's arrival in the branded
foods segment should give a genuine jolt to the growth plans
of several existing players
