Whirlpool India Aims for 15-Percent Sales Growth Jun 21, 2004

Printable format  Email this Article  Search

Home appliances firm Whirlpool of India says it aimed for a 15-percent rise in sales turnover this fiscal year from Rs 13 billion (approx. U.S. $284.9 million) last year, mainly helped by increasing sales of refrigerators.

"We are eyeing a 15-percent growth in our sales turnover, which will mainly come from a new range of refrigerators," said Arvind Mediratta, Whirlpool India vice president of Marketing.

Refrigerators contributed 65 percent of the company's sales turnover.

The Indian arm of the U.S. home appliances company has also launched new range of refrigerators, which it claimed was the world's first line of single-door, frost-control refrigerators. Conventionally, direct-cool fridges are single-door, while frost-free refrigerators have double doors. In India, direct-cool refrigerators are estimated to be 85 percent of the total refrigerator market.

"Our idea is to cater to both segments -- direct-cool and frost-free. Though frost-free is a superior technology, in India many people prefer direct-cool due to power shortage and eating habits," Mr. Mediratta said. "The new range has been developed combining the benefits of frost-free and direct-cool."

The company said the new single-door, frost-free control would contribute 20 percent of overall refrigerator sales.

Mr. Mediratta said Whirlpool India has also introduced the 'six sense,' proprietary technology, which automatically maintains the requisite temperature. (PTI)

Back to Daily News