ITC to foray into dairy, beverages

Kolkata, July 30 (IANS) Diversified conglomerate ITC will be foraying into dairy and beverages segments, its chairman Y.C. Deveshwar said here Wednesday.

"We want to grow in new areas... in areas of fruit juices, tea, coffee, chocolates and dairy products. This is the best time to absorb the cost of gestation of new area and build the company for tomorrow," he said while responding to shareholders during the company's 103rd AGM here.

While the company had earlier communicated its intent to enter dairy products, this is the first time it has officially said about its further diversification.

Commenting on higher tax imposed on cigarettes, Deveshwar said the company was in constant dialogue with state and central government for an equitable approach on taxing cigarettes.

About 83 percent of ITC's pre-tax profits come from cigarette business. In the last budget, the government imposed a steep 11-72 percent excise hike on cigarettes.

He said the company was pursuing 65 projects across India with a budgeted outlay of Rs.25,000 crore. These projects are under various stages of implementation.

"(A total of) 65 projects involving a built-up area of 28 million sq. feet with an outlay of over Rs.25,000 crore are currently under implementation or in advanced stages of planning.

"West Bengal has a high share of these projects with an outlay of over Rs.3,500 crore," he said, adding that the company was aiming at a revenue of Rs.100,000 crore from the new FMCG businesses alone by 2030.