Bangalore, a hub for Aussie biscuit co

Driven by the huge cost advantage, Australia's specialty biscuit manufacturer UNIBIC is making Bangalore its production hub to cater to the markets in South-East Asia, the Middle East and to some extent the UK.

"UNIBIC has established a Rs 15 crore biscuit making plant in Bangalore," Michael Quinn, chairman (India) and managing director of UNIBIC Australia said, adding that he expected shipments to these regions to start in the next six to 12 months.

UNIBIC has two manufacturing plants at Melbourne and the only one outside Australia is located in Bangalore. The company estimates that making biscuits in Bangalore is cheaper than Australia by 35 per cent.

Quinn says exports were expected to contribute 50 per cent of the sales generated from the Bangalore plant in the next five years.

The company, which currently employs 182 Indians at its Bangalore plant, is manufacturing two cookie brands -- ANZAC and Bradman.

"Our products are available in 8,000 outlets. We are planning to take them to 95,000 outlets in India in the next two to two-and-half-years," he said.