With rising health concerns related to consumption of aerated drinks, the Indian fruit juice majors like Patanjali, Dabur and MANB are energetically hitting the markets to meet the demand for healthful non-aerated drinks and fruit juices.
While mounting a propaganda for the Patanjali-made fruit juices and cold drinks, Baba Ramdev, the champion of Swadeshi, is being heard calling aerated drinks fit for cleaning toilets. Besides, an Rs150 crore juice manufacturing facility has been set up by Vadodara based Manpasand beverages in Andhra Pradesh this year and the company is mulling to double its production capacity in next 12-18 months. Parle Frooti and Godrej Jumpin, one time big players, are now finding a number of competitors in the market in India.
Haridwar- based Patanjali Ayurved ltd with Baba Ramdev as its mentor is looking at doubling its sales to over Rs 20,000 crore this financial year from 10,561 crores of the financial year ending 31 March 2017. It is planning to double its distribution outlets to 12,000 across the country with stress on pushing up the sale of juices and cold drinks it is churning out in the market.
While talking to The Pioneer, the co-founder and managing director of Patanjali Ayurved ltd Acharya Balkrishna said, “In financial year 2016-17, Patanjali Ayurved contributed nearly Rs 10,000 crores to its total annual turnover and the sale of fruit juices, including lemon drinks, account for Rs 97 crore-a jump of Rs 33.72 crore as compared to the previous year’s figure.”
A city- based doctor at Shankaracharya Chownk Sanjay Shah says, “I always recommend my patients against going for juices from the vendors which might invite infection. Aerated drinks like Pepsi Cola are the worst, as they increase the calories and blood sugar insulin putting pressure on body systems and difficulty in extrication. Even the American heart association has asked the government to check the sale of Colas which disturb the metabolic system of our bodies.”