As per the study the company has clocked an impressive sales growth of 32.4 per cent of its consumer products in the last calendar year (1 January to 31 December 2002) vis-à-vis the corresponding calendar year.

Gemini, the company''s flagship brand of refined oil, has given an impetus to the growth achieved by the company and pushed it to the No 1 position from its earlier ninth ranking in the calendar year 2001.

Adding to the above landmark achievements, the company has positively adhered to and delivered the promises made over the last financial year. Through its sustained marketing and R&D efforts the company has successfully crossed the Rs 1,000-crore-turnover mark. The total turnover has shot up from Rs 681 crore (1 April to 31 March 2002) to Rs 1,029 crore for the financial year ending March 2003, thus registering a striking 51-per cent growth in turnover over the previous financial year.

In an endeavour to offer superior quality products to its customers, Parakh Foods is presently offering the freshness intact technology (FIT) for its Gemini brand of refined oils — Gemini Refined Sunflower Oil, Gemini Refined Soyabean Oil and Gemini Refined Groundnut Oil. The unique and novel FIT offered by the Gemini brand of edible oils provides benefits of keeping the food fresh for a longer duration, enables tastier cooking and aids in retaining the essential nutrients present in the food.

Gemini brand of refined edible oil is available in ½-litre bottles to 15-litre jars and tin packages all over India. The other key brands offered by the company are Cardiola Kardi Oil, Dosti Refined Palmoleine Oil, Samrat Filtered Groundnut Oil and Shubh Refined Soya Oil.

Says Parakh Foods managing director Prakash Parakh: "The notable growth achieved can be attributed to our dedicated efforts to deliver excellent quality products and services to suit our customer needs. With an increased thrust on technology-driven R&D initiatives, profitable investments in infrastructure and aggressive marketing, distribution and promotional activities, the company has been able to achieve these milestones.

"Today, Gemini, the company''s flagship brand of refined oil, commands a sizeable market share in the refined oil segment. We will continue to strengthen and maintain our leadership position by delivering quality and value-for-money products and services to our customers. All our initiatives will be steered by the vision to be a Rs 2,000-crore company by the end of 2005."

Currently, Parakh Foods has a strong distribution network of 1,500 distributors across India. The company plans to expand its distribution network across the country from the existing number of 1,500 to 2,500. Additionally, on the anvil are plans to make future investments in the areas of edible oil refinery and vanaspati plants.

The company will shortly be undertaking backward and forward integration initiatives and also introduce value-added by-products. Additionally, Parakh Foods will be tapping the export market in future for its value-added by-products like vitamin-E oil.

Parakh Foods, the flagship company of the Rs 1,029-crore Parakh group, Pune, was founded in 1979 by its chairman H K Parakh. The company, which started out initially by manufacturing packaged wheat and gram flour products, is now a lead player in the packaged edible oil and wheat and gram flour products market. The company manufactures reliable and quality brands of edible oils.