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Value-added maize products from Agro Corn

Chitra Phadnis

BANGALORE, July 14

KARNATAKA State Agro Corn Products Ltd has just entered the retail market with value-added corn products, doing its bit towards increasing consumption of maize in the country.

Agro Corn recently launched maize-based products at the Maize mela in Bangalore. The attractively packaged products include maize grits for animal feed, maize flakes, breakfast food, instant upma, instant kesri bhat, biscuits, ready-to-eat maize puff and instant corn soup mix.

All the products are being marketed under the `Gala' brand name, originally given to a range of fruit-based products from the Karnataka Agro Industries Corporation (KAIC). From April this year, Agro Corn has taken over the marketing of KAIC's Gala produc ts too.

Agro Corn is also looking at strengthening its weakest link -- marketing -- by teaming up with distributors and dealers throughout the country.

Currently, it is in talks with chains such as Janata Bazaars, Nilgiris and FoodWorld to stock Gala on their shelves. The company also has proposals to set up kiosks to sell Gala products.

This year, maize products are expected to bring in business of ``well over Rs 1 crore''. Maize products still have to be popularised in India, but by 2002, they may bring in as much as Rs 6 crore, said Mr R. Prakash, Managing Director of the company.

The bulk of revenues for the company comes in from the energy foods division. Energy foods are currently being supplied only to the Women and Child Welfare Department. This year, the company plans to launch it in the commercial market as well.

Agro Corn is also reducing staff through VRS schemes ``for greater efficiency''. Other plans include launching value added wheat products, and malted ragi using CFTRI technology.

The company ended the current financial year with profits of Rs 4 crore on a turnover of Rs 40 crore after years of losses.

Picture: A visitor looks at the `Gala' products on shelf

Picture by G.R.N. Somasekhar