New Delhi: Nestle India will consider introducing new products, including under the Maggi brand, while looking to drive growth of other categories with increased advertising spending, as it looks to overcome the setback from the ban on its flagship instant noodles.
The company’s newly appointed managing director, Suresh Narayanan, who officially took over the role on Saturday, said at a media briefing that bringing Maggi back to the market was at the top on his five-point agenda.
When asked if the company will consider introducing an alternative snacks category under the Maggi brand, he said, “If it all makes sense, why not?” He, however, added that it would depend on whether those products are commercially viable.
“In Maggi itself, there are couple of ideas on which we are working. In other product categories, there are couple of ideas that we have got,” he said without sharing details.
Reiterating that Nestle “spends maximum amount on R&D” worldwide, he said there are a number of projects currently underway.
The Maggi ban has affected sales of other categories too and the company was looking to drive growth of those categories, he said.
“For me, what is going to be the key focus is on growing some of other categories as well. We have got presence in dairy, coffee, beverages and in chocolate and confectioneries as well. There are opportunities there,” Mr Narayanan said.
On the impact on other categories, he said, “There has been impact on the rest of the portfolio because it is also sold in similar outlets and in similar geographies. I can say that it has been reasonably uniform across all the categories. Uniformally it has affected.”
