IndiaRetailBiz

Snowberry USA Inc, leading US-based ice cream maker and  Delhi-based realty finance company Soni Buildcom have joined hands to set up 1,000 kiosks (100 sq ft) and parlours (1,000 sq ft) of Snowberry ice creams across India.

Snowberry is the second largest maker yogurt based ice creams in the US with last year’s sales amounting to $25 million in the category. It also claims to be the largest player of ice creams under this category in South Korea. Over a period of time, Snowberry expects its India foray to become its second largest outside the Us.

 of number two player in the US for segment with a sale figure of USD 25 million last year. India is the company’s second international foray, after South Korea where it claims to have the top slot in the segment.

These outlets will be set up under a franchise agreement at an investment outlay of $50 million (Rs 250 Cr) over a period of the next two years by 2010.

“We are starting with 50 parlours and kiosks in Delhi and NCR before Valentine’s Day in February 2009 as part of our plan for having a 1,000 store strong presence across India by end of 2010 with an investment of 50 million dollars,” said Robert Barker, President, Snowberry USA Inc.

Snowberry is also setting up a manufacturing facility, spanning 21,000 sq ft, at Manesar. THe facility to be set up at an investment of $5 million will be ready for production by 2009.

Snowberry is looking at garnering one fifth of organised sector market. “The organised ice cream market in India is around Rs 800 crore and we hope to have at least 20 per cent of the market by 2010,” Barker said.

Snowberry, according to Nitesh Kumar, its Vice President, will target a sales volume of USD 25,000-30,000 from each outlet within six months of starting operations.