CALCUTTA, July 19: Blow Plast, the marketing company for the Leo and Leo-Mattel range of toys, will concentrate on Mattel products.

The range, which includes hot-wheel cars, Barbie dolls and He-Man, is manufactured in the country by Mattel India. Mattel Inc has a 40 per cent stake in the venture.

Blow Plast eastern region manager Pardeep Kumar said the company had resolved to zero-in on Leo-Mattel range this year given the fact that these account for 60 per cent of its sales. The rest come from the indigenously- conceived and manufactured Leo toys.

"The Mattel range of toys, popular worldwide, is our USP. The Barbie range alone contributes up to 30 to 35 per cent. The indigenously-made toys are at a disadvantage since they can be duplicated. We also plan to introduce more toys from Mattel Inc, the world's largest toy company," Kumar said.

The toy division posted sales worth Rs 30 crore in 1996-97, while the group's sales touched Rs 400 crore. Based on the company's projection of growth between 10 and 15 per cent, the toy division has set a target of Rs 42 crore this year, Kumar said. In the Rs 400-crore organised toy industry, the Leo and Leo Mattel range face their main competitor in MRF's Funskool range of toys.

To take awareness to schools, Blow Plast has organised the `Design a dress' contest for school girls, which culminates in an exhibition. After Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore, the contest was organised in the city recently.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.