Date:02/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/02/stories/2007080255452100.htm

Business

Fedders Lloyd keen on expansion

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Kerala is a growing market for consumer durables such as split air conditioner and microwave oven, according to Sanjeev Wadhwa, vice-president, sales and marketing, Fedders Lloyd Corporation. He was launching the company’s new range of products here. The products include air conditioners, microwave ovens, DVD players and LCD televisions sets.

He said a study conducted by the company found that the growth rate in the sale of air conditioners in Kerala was 15 per cent, DVDs 18 per cent and washing machines 15 per cent. The company targeted to get 9 per cent market share of air conditioners in Kerala. The target for DVD and microwave ovens would be 10 per cent and 9 per cent. The company had a mission to reach among the top three premium consumer durables brands in the country by 2010.

The new washing machines introduced by the company had crystal wash technology capable of superior action, he said. Road shows, offers and gifts would form part of the marketing efforts for the Onam season. About 60 per cent of the annual sales of consumer durables in Kerala took place during Onam, he observed.