While the Mysore Sandal soap is a household name, the company will be launching the Mysore Sandal Baby soap in white colour in May which will be followed by the Mysore Sandal Herbal Shampoo in July, managing director P Ganesan told press persons here on Wednesday.

The company has been able to achieve the net profit target of Rs 20 crore for the financial year just ended, he said announcing the launch of new joss stick brands from the company.

The company has posted a sales turnover of Rs 125 crore for the year ended March 31, 1999 and set a Rs 181 crore turnover for 1999-2000.

Out of this Mysore Sandal Soap holds 65 per cent at Rs 80 crore, detergents Rs 20 crore and joss sticks the rest.

Mysore Sandal Gold, aexpensive premium product, which was launched during November 1998, has already sold 64 tonnes in the domestic market. Pointing out to the huge potential in the joss stick market which is estimated to be over Rs 1,500 crore annually, Ganesan said no company has managed to sell more than Rs 50 crore. This is an indicator for KSDL to make a big foray into this market also, he felt.

KSDL has already brought down the Rs 98 crore accumulated loss during 1993-94 to Rs 38 crore in 1999 and is set to wipe out the entire backlog in two year's time. KSDL has also prepaid the loans of Rs 14 crore up to 2002 to all FIs, and the balance of Rs 15.5 crore would be cleared before the revival package period ends at 2004.

With the new launches the company's export turnover is slated to go up to Rs 8 crore during 1999-2000 from the present Rs 4.5 crore. The company has set a Rs 30 crore turnover for agarbathis for 1999-2000.