Cookies, the new darling of the Indian biscuit market, look all set to see a big corporate battle between Britannia and ITC for leadership. The Rs 6,800crore segment is the fastest-growing among different segments of biscuit industry and has dethroned glucose as the biggest segment already. ITC is now planning to make inroads into the lucrative mid premium cookies segment now ruled by Good Day of Britannia, the undisputed king of the segment with over 90% marketshare.
The FMCG-to-tobacco-to-hospitality conglomerate is introducing Sunfeast Mom's Magic in the mid-premium cookies segment. The industry insiders feel that the move by the FMCG giant is aimed at garnering a sizeable share of the mid-premium cookie segment. Mom's Magic is available in two variants - Rich Butter and Cashew & Almond, which is also available in Good Day stable. The range is priced at Rs 10, Rs 15, Rs 20 & Rs 30. "Sunfeast Mom's Magic is the brand's Endeavour to broaden its base in the cookie segment, the largest segment in biscuits," a source in ITC said. According an industry expert, Sunfeast is already the third largest player in the cookies segment in India and offers differentiated products across price segments.
The cookies segment is growing at a CAGR of 14% in India. The mid-premium cookies segment is relatively smaller in size with Rs 1,800crore consumer spends but has witnessed a CAGR of 20% in recent years. Britannia is also not sitting idle and to maintain its leadership in the lucrative cookies segment it has strengthened Good Day portfolio with the introduction of a new brand in the family Chunkies. A Britannia spokesperson said Good Day is the largest brand in the cookies segment and has remained so ever since its inception close to three decades ago. It is also the largest brand in the Britannia stable.
"Business on Good Day is going great guns, clocking great growth numbers in 2013-14 and continuing to build on that in 2014-15. The brand is expanding its footprint in thousands of new consumer households. It is the most preferred biscuit brand in India and a new member - Chunkies, has now been added to the Good Day family to take this legacy forward," A Britannia spokesperson said. Good Day, according to the spokesperson, is a Rs1600crore brand.
"It has remained the leader of the cookies category for close to 30 years now and sells over 50 lakh packs every day as per our estimates," the spokesperson added.
Commenting on the entry into mid premium cookies range, the divisional chief executive of foods of ITC, Chitranjan Dar said, "Today, there is growing consumer franchise for premium and super premium offerings. Given the changing tastes and preferences of the Indian consumers, cookies are one of the most preferred biscuit segments to operate in. With the launch of Mom's Magic, ITC is augmenting its bouquet of differentiated offerings in this segment."
He pointed out that the cuisine expertise of its hotels business as well as its marketing and distribution strength has helped Sunfeast stay ahead of its competition.
Commenting on the cookies battle, Amnish Agarwal, senior VP research (FMCG) of Prabhudas Liladhar, said cookies market has expanded considerably in recent years. "The launch of smaller packs in this segment also helped the lower and middle segment of cookies to grow and these two segments will continue to grow at a healthy rate. So leading players will look for a bigger pie of this segment," he added.
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