Distiller Khodays all set to comeback

Bangalore: Distiller Khodays is all set make its comeback, having earmarked Rs200 crore for expansion and reviving some of its brands.

The distiller is also reportedly in talks with a distiller in Scotland for acquisition, according to Khoday India''s newly appointed chief operating officer, Satpal Chaudhry.

He added that the earlier marketing arrangement with the Bagga group had been terminated, and the company will plans to handle its own marketing.

Khodays has partnered with Punjabi Foods International to market its Red Knight and Peter Scot brands in the European markets. The company is reportedly also evaluating some opportunities for marketing its brands in the US. The company plans to launch a vodka brand in the premium segment in India, along with a beer brand from Germany.

The company is optimistic of trebling its sales in about two years. The company has set aside Rs200 crore for capacity expansion in its five distilleries, one brewery, and 11 bottling plants. Over the next two-three years, the capacity of the brewery in Bangalore will be expanded to 5 lakh cases per year from 2 lakh cases.

Chaudhry also said that initially around nine or 10 containers of 1,300 cases of 700ml bottles will be sent to Italy per month, and later to Germany and other European Union nations.

Each container will be sold at €35,000.

In the Indian market, the company''s Peter Scot brand sells about 85,000 cases annually (a case is 12 bottles of 650 ml each), and its Red Knight brand sells about 2 lakh cases per annum.