GCL forays into FMCG market

Having carved a distinct niche in the tobacco business since 1942, GCL is now aggressively expanding their portfolio and entered the FMCG sector to delight consumers across India with a huge array of products and services. The company unveiled a wide range of crispy and delightful potato chips under the brand name Tat-O, a nutritious snack under the brand name Crispetts and the ready-to-fry snacks range Fut-Fut. The products will be available in the MT and GT outlets.
 
Speaking on this strategic foray, Gopal Gupta, Chairman, GCL remarked, "Since inception we have always been driven by our single-minded objective to delight consumers with our products. Today our products are well-entrenched in all categories and speak of superior quality and are retailed extensively across India through a robust distribution network. With retail boom, consumer preferences changing, and the demand to cater to a cross-section of consumers, we are now aggressively making strong inroads into various sectors such as FMCG, Hospitality and Power etc. Hence we have reoriented our business strategy and the Group has been rechristened as GCL, and will have strategic business units to handle these businesses. We are now launching Tat-O in Eastern India beginning with Kolkata and the rest of Bengal; Bihar Jharkhand and Orissa etc. Plans are afoot to launch Tat-O on a pan India basis in the next couple of months.”
 
Elaborating further on the new range, Gopal Gupta said, "Today Indian consumer is eager to experiment with new food items. Snacking especially has become more prevalent as life on the fast track leaves consumer with less time on hand. Further taste preference is a key to decide a brand. Hence the challenge is to offer innovative product range which is tasty, fun, and nutritious. Our range caters to all age groups thereby meeting all requirements of consumers on key parameters such as quality, taste, innovation and packaging. As we are foraying into the FMCG sector, we have launched Tat-O Potato Chips, multigrain snack Crispetts and Fut-Fut.”
 
Detailing the roll-out plan for all three offerings, Gopal Gupta elaborated, "Our entry into the FMCG sector is very strategic. Our products are well researched and have generated excellent response from consumers. We are launching the products in a phased manner. Substantial budget have been allocated on promotional budgets.”