The latest entrant in the fast-growing domestic mineral water market, D S Foods Ltd, has targeted export revenues of Rs 10 crore in the next financial year (2001-02). "The company, part of the Rs 600 crore D S Group, is currently exporting its upmarket natural spring water brand 'Catch' to us," Europe and Middle East countries, D S Group Vice-President Ashok Agarwal told visiting journalists in Kullu. "We have done business of Rs 10 crore, including Rs 5 crore in exports since May 2000 when we started selling the product," he said. D S Foods is at present selling 'Catch' at departmental stores, five star hotels and embassies in the four metros of the country but plans to go nationwide soon. "We want to compete with all the international brands in India and the global market," Agarwal said.
The company has invested Rs 12 crore in setting up a modern plant with an annual bottling capacity of 30 million bottles at Raison village in this district for bottling natural spring water at source. "Catch' is the only domestic mineral water brand in India to get the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification for meeting the US foods and Drug Administration (USFDA) standards of quality and safety," Agarwal said. "The approval by the international organisation would help it expand its export base in the quality-conscious developed countries," he said. Bureau Report