Pune Warriors

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BASIX, a social enterprise group, and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), have collaborated to launch Aahar - a pilot project comprising a range of ready-to-eat products. The collaboration focusses on food technologies developed by the Mysore-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), part of DRDO. The objective of the project is to build women-oriented enterprises using food technologies of DFRL.

Aahar is the first pilot project that covers a set of technologies and products including ready-to-eat roti, and two variants in dal which are instant palak dal and masala channa curry mix. While a pack of two rotis is priced at Rs 15, a packet of dal will cost Rs 20.  Aahar is a hygienic, nutritious and convenient meal that tastes fresh with longer shelf life, and is quick to serve. While the roti has a shelf life of 15 days, the two variants of dal have a shelf life of 12 months under ambient conditions, according to Dr A S Bawa, director, DFRL.

Cholayil Private Limited (CPL), a Chennai-based Rs 100-crore FMCG company, announced the acquisition of Krishna Thulasi, a leading herbal soap brand owned by Krishna Herbals based in Kollam.

CPL had acquired one of Kerala's oldest brands of talcum powder and soap, Cuticura, in 2001, which now has 15 per cent market share in the Kerala market. The company has also planned to launch a number of beauty and cosmetic products like hair cream and face cream shortly. It will also launch a low-price soap brand, My Sop, for markets like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. 

With a turnover of Rs 5 crore, Krishna Thulasi is one of south India's admired brands of herbal soap and other personal care products like herbal shampoo and face beauty gel.