''Biscuits industry provides a vast opportunity for growth''
Published: 28 Aug 2008 20:58:00 PST
…says Vinita Bali, managing director of Britannia Industries Ltd - one of the most trusted food brands in India. Britannia has been evolving under the magnificent leadership of Bali, who has a rich and diverse experience in packaged F&B gleaned by working in a variety of marketing, sales and general management positions. An alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, Bali started her career with Voltas Ltd before moving to Cadbury and later on to The Coca-Cola Company. After an eventful nine-year association with Coca-Cola, Bali joined her mentor and globally acclaimed marketing guru, Sergio Zyman at the Zyman Group in July 2003 as managing principal and head of the Business Strategy practice in the company's Atlanta office.
It was in 2005 that Bali took over the reins at Britannia as its CEO, and since then has been in the midst of leading a business model and culture transformation in Britannia. Besides transforming the company with her unique strategies, she also blends a high quality of Indian and international perspective having lived and worked in the UK, Nigeria, South Africa, USA and Chile.
On the jubilant occasion of Modern Food Processing's 3rd Anniversary, Bali shares her views on the Indian biscuits industry and Britannia's future plans in this exclusive e-interview with Richy D Alexander.
A brief history of Britannia…
The company we all know as Britannia today, was started in 1892 as a common house in Kolkata manufacturing biscuits with an initial investment of Rs 295. By 1910, with the advent of electricity, Britannia mechanised its operations, and in 1921, it became the first company east of the Suez Canal to use imported gas ovens. It was in 1975 that Britannia Biscuit Company took over the distribution of biscuits from Parry's who till then distributed Britannia biscuits in India. In the late 70s, Indian shareholding...