PLING — Kerala origin Indian snacks made for the world
Pling could be the rightful nameplate holder of Kerala’s in the packaged food products category in a National/International context. Indian organised snack market which consists of western snacks (60%) and Indian snacks (40%) have seen a tremendous growth in the Indian snack category.
Pling is meant to fill in Kerala’s share of creating a world class Indian orgin snack. The flagship product of the company are flavoured banana crisps , flavoured roasted peanuts and peanut candy which are due to launch in late July and will be followed with beverages and organic spices all sourced from the farmers in Kerala.
Pling is brain child of Andrine Mendez, a proven brand builder and entrepreneur who has attracted FDI with his previous ventures and managed to sell a three year old brand to a French group. Now with the food processing sector also open to 100% FDI, the section is poised for exponential investment and growth.
Pling is meant to answer the consumer’s need for alternative and healthier snacking options. With contemporary lifestyle forcing consumer’s to rethink their eating habits, the new consumer is expected to be interested in healthy food of international quality and standards along with local flavours. With Pling, the company aims to take people back to their roots and to a more active healthy and fun lifestyle oozing of ethnic aromas and flavours.
The company is an asset light entity and sources its products from units in Nellad, Malappuram and Muvattupuzha. The local sourcing and value addition is beneficial to local farmers as well as to the Kerala economy, acting as price stabiliser, incentive for producers and a promised market.
The products are processed and packaged to attract the snack tooth community in general and not just focussed on the Kerala crowd. The barbecue, peri-peri ,pani puri and spanish tomato flavours speak for this aim. The use of banana and peanuts as source products also offers customers a healthy alternative to potato based snacks. The company aims to capture 10% of the Indian snack market in three years and have more than 20 SKU’s during this period.
