MUMBAI, Oct 6: Godrej Agrovet, a subsidiary company of Godrej Soaps, plans to double export volumes of grapes this year. The company plans to export 600 tonnes of grapes this year as against 300 tonnes last year.

According to Godrej Agrovet chief executive SL Anaokar, the company is exploring the possibility of exporting grapes to new markets like Europe and the Far East. Currently, Godrej grapes are exported to the United Kingdom, and sold through the super market chain called Tesco.

In Europe, Holland is the potential market which Godrej plans to tap, said Anaokar. "We are looking at getting firm price contracts in these markets where India has a special window for grapes in the month of April. Thus there will be no competition from other countries during this period," he said.

The fixed price of grapes in the UK last year was 11.5 pounds sterling for 5 kg of grapes. This is the second time Godrej will export to Europe. Last time, the company was badly hit in this market when it was flooded with Chilean grapes and the price fell drastically, said Anaokar.

Though Godrej Agrovet also exports litchis, the company's main focus is on grapes as litchis have a shorter shelf life.

Even as the company has been active in exports of grapes for the last two to three years, it has not tapped the domestic market with its branded grapes. Anaokar says that in the absence of a cold chain in the country, the option to supply cooled grapes in the domestic market is currently ruled out.

Further, the company does not intend to compete with the vast and strong unorganised sector with freshly harvested grapes where the shelf life is short, he said. Godrej Agrovet achieved a turnover of Rs 216 crore for 1996-97, registering an increase of 31 per cent over the previous year.

The net profit stood at over Rs 12 crore.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.