Cadbury's second plant under FDA glare
Mumbai: Cadbury India's second plant in Maharashtra is now under scrutiny by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Maharashtra. "We are seeking quality control issues in the Thane plant as well. Further, we are seizing only one brand [Dairy Milk] from a wholesaler and that is the reason nothing has been seized from retailers," FDA commissioner Uttam Khobragade was quoted as saying.

Cadbury Dairy Milk is mainly manufactured at Cadbury's factories in Talegaon near Pune and Thane, which cater to the entire country. The company's chocolates reach over 650,000 retailers directly and indirectly. The FDA started inspecting Cadbury India's plants after worms were allegedly found in a Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bar. The chocolate bar was produced at Cadbury's Talegaon plant. The FDA has also sent the allegedly contaminated pieces for testing at its laboratories, say reports.
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UB group not to launch car now
New Delhi: The UB group has shelved its plans to venture into the sports car segment with Bangalore-based San Motors. In 2002, UB group chairman Vijay Mallya had said that the group will make an investment of Rs 5 crore and pick up a 26-per cent equity in the company. He wanted to call the 2200cc car, priced at Rs 5.3 lakh, the Kingfisher Storm. "The plan has been put on hold. Mallya wants certain changes to be made in the car, only after that will we go ahead," UB Group sources were quoted as saying.

San Motors developed the Storm, a convertible, and the Streak, a sports coupe, with help from Godfroy Design of France. The UB group's interest in sports cars was meant to enhance the lifestyle image of its beer brand Kingfisher. UB wanted to roll out a limited edition of the car, around 500 a year, and targeted at the premium end market.
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Techumseh to increase outsourcing from India
New Delhi: Techumseh Products Company (TPC), a $2-billion US compressors manufacturer, will step up the amount of work outsourced from its Indian subsidiary, Tecumseh Products India Pvt Ltd (TPIL).

According to which, Tecumseh India has set up a CAD/CAM centre for compressor and engine design in the US, put up a new line for doing sub-assemblies of a new family of compressors for the US, invested in a tool room to make dies and molds for Tecumseh worldwide and taken on new engineers to help the European operations with design. The company's investments in India, which currently stand at $80 million, are likely to go up to $100 million by the next financial year.
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Taj may buy New York Intercontinental Hotel
New Delhi: The Indian Hotels Company, which runs the Taj Group of Hotels, is in talks to buy the 211-room Intercontinental Hotel at Central Park in south New York. The hotel may cost between Rs 300-400 crore, sources were quoted as saying.

The 25-storey boutique-style property in midtown Manhattan has 23 suites and one restaurant and is considered one of the finer properties in Big Apple because of its classic European ambience. The hotel is located close to Fifth Avenue Shopping and the Lincoln Centre. A Taj Group spokesperson said: "Negotiations are on for different properties at different locations and until something is finalised, we will not comment on the matter."
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M&M targets European markets for its tractors
Mumbai: Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) is strongly pursuing the alternative organic growth route in the European tractor market following its failed bid for the Finnish tractor company, Valtra. The company will begin commercial tractor sales in Spain from end-October.

M&M will sell in the country through its Spanish distributor Pedrocabeza, who have over 60 dealerships across Spain, according to a senior company official. M&M will initially sell compact tractors in the 28, 31 and 41 HP categories. Spain is one of the most competitive tractor markets in Europe and has over 35 brands in different categories. The category has a potential of around 1,500-2,000 units annually.
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