Date:08/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/08/stories/2005020802330400.htm

Back Wipro sets up plant in HP for Santoor soap

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Feb. 7

WIPRO Ltd has set up its first manufacturing unit in North India, at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, for making toilet soap brand Santoor.

The plant was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Virbhadra Singh. Also present on the occasion were Wipro Chairman, Mr Azim Premji, and President of the Consumer Care and Lighting Division, Mr Vineet Agrawal.

The company said in a statement that Santoor sales grew 26 per cent in the first 9 months of the year. Buoyed by this growth and in order to cater to the growing demand, the company would be adding more capacity at Baddi. This will include backward integration to make soap noodles and the expansion would be completed by May this year. Later on, Wipro will start production of glucose brand Glucovita from Baddi.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Premji said, "We selected HP for setting up the toilet soap manufacturing unit after a long and careful analysis and we are happy to be here. The advantages we saw were good rail and road connectivity, good quality power, good water and above all positive attitude of people including the government here."

Mr Vineet Agrawal said, "Our business has grown 33 per cent in the first 9 months of the year, making us one of the fastest growing players in the FMCG space. In the last quarter, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh consumers have strongly endorsed our recent launch of Wipro Safewash liquid detergent."

Wipro has also ensured that its third party suppliers of Santoor and Wipro talcum powder, Wipro Safewash liquid detergent and other toilet soap suppliers also shift to Himachal Pradesh, the statement added.

Baddi plant is the company's third toilet soap manufacturing unit in the country. This soap in also manufactured at Amalner in Maharastra and Tumkur in Karnataka.

The company sells toilet soaps, haircare soaps, hydrogenated cooking oil (vanaspati), babycare products and lighting products.

Its brands include, Santoor toilet soaps, Milk and Roses toilet soaps, Chandrika toilet soap, Wipro Shikakai haircare soap, Santoor talcs, Wipro Baby Soft range of products, Wipro Safewash.

In the well being area, Wipro markets Glucovita and Isabgol.