Godrej and Boyce launches DVD ranges

Kochi, Jul 27: Making a foray in the consumer electronics segment, Godrej and Boyce appliances division launched its new range of DVDs in South India, starting from Kerala, here today.

Launching the product, vice-president, sales and marketing, Kamal Nandi said that the Rs 1500 crore DVD market was expected to grow at about 60 per cent this year.

''DVDs are the fastest growing electronic product right now and that is why we decided to make our foray in the consumer electronics segment with DVDs,'' Mr Nandi said.

The USP of the Godrej DVD, launched in three models, is that it comes with a built-in amplifier. The three models are priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000.

The company would be spending about Rs two crore in the marketing promotion of the DVDs, Mr Nandi said.

Talking about refrigerators, Mr Nandi said that Godrej and Boyce was in the process of setting up a new plant at Shirwal in Maharashtra to bring out a new range of frost-free refrigerators.

The company had this summer launched a new range of rust-proof fridges with 'zinc oxide protection' (ZOP) technology with a ten year warranty against rusting.

Mr Nandi said Godrej refrigerators had a 20 per cent market share nationally and 24 per cent in Kerala.

The company was targeting business worth about Rs 100 crore across all its consumer goods in Kerala. He said the turnover of the appliances business for 2005-06 was Rs 650 crore.

Washing machines and microwave ovens were the other consumer goods being manufactured by the appliances division.

UNI