Eveready Industries enters confectionery market with 'Jollies'

Eveready Industries India Limited (EIIL), one of the market leader in dry cell batteries now enters the Rs 9,000 crores plus confectionary market through its brand "Jollies”. In the first phase, Jollies will be launched in the fruit chew segment. This segment is estimated to be around Rs. 400 crores and is growing at a rapid pace. The company is working on an asset light model and believes it can add significant turnover and profitability with entry into this segment.

Speaking on the occasion, Amritanshu Khaitan, Managing Director, EIIL, stated, “Jollies is the first step to scale up our FMCG portfolio of products. We believe that priced at Re.1, Jollies Fruit Chew will be an attractive offering to Indian consumers who prefer healthier choices. The product being launched has a high percentage of natural fruit pulp, making it a preferred healthier option to pure sugar candy. Candies are a mass market product and can be carried in the Eveready vans reaching a million outlets. This brings in a major competitive advantage for us and we believe we can become a major player in the fast growing confectionery market in the next 3-5 years with only investments required for branding.”

According to EIL, with extensive distribution, being one of their key strengths, confectionary would provide an opportunity to compliment the current basket of products and give an opportunity to offer value added products to the company’s vast up-country distribution. The company also markets LED, CFL, GLS and other lighting products, rechargeable lanterns and devices, packet tea and small home appliances.  Eveready has an extensive distribution network of over 4000 distributors and reaches towns with population of 5000 or more.