Udupi: For the first time in the city, the State government-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) organised a 10-day ‘Soap Santhe’ to popularise its various products, at the Government College (Board High School) Udupi here on Friday, October 16.
A total of 40 different products ranging from soaps, detergents, cosmetics, incense sticks and sandalwood oil, all from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), were available at the Soap Santhe. The santhe, which will remain open from 9.30 am to 10.30 pm every day till October 25, is part of the company’s initiative to attract more customers.
The formal inaugural function of Soap Santhe began with an invocation by Mallika Ashok. Laxminarayana Bhat welcomed the gathering. MLA Udupi Pramod Madhwaraj inaugurated the Soap Santhe by lighting the lamp while Jayaprakash Hegde, former MP of Udupi-Chikmagalur, inaugurated the shopping mela by cutting the ribbon.
In his inaugural message, Pramod Madhwaraj appealed to the people to support the public sector Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) by using its products. While KSDL products, particularly soaps, enjoy a good market even in foreign countries, people need to support this industry.
Pramod also appealed to the City Municipal Council to give KSDL permission for installation of a shopping outlet of their products in Udupi city limits as early as possible.
In his message, former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde said that it is difficult for a public sector undertaking to compete with private players, especially when it comes to advertising, adding that exhibitions as well as some corporate marketing strategies would help PSUs reach their target group.
Managing director of KSDL, A C Keshava Moorthy said that the ‘soap santhes’ organised so far in major cities and towns received a very good response. Discounts ranging from 7 to 15 per cent will be given on soaps and detergents, and 25 per cent on agarbathis. During the year 2014-15, KSDL achieved a turnover of Rs 406.00 crore and registered a net profit of Rs 45.19 crore. It has also set an ambitious target of Rs 403.00 crore for the financial year 2015-16 and has already made steady progress in achieving the set target. The Company has received various awards for its progressive growth. It has also received the coveted Chief Minister Ratna Award in the year 2010. The Company manufactures around 40 different products ranging from Soaps, Detergents, Cosmetics, Agarbathis and the world famous Sandalwood Oil.
The product Mysore Sandal Millennium Luxury Soap which was launched during 2013, has become the most sought after premium soap in the country though it is priced at Rs 720/- per cake of 150 gm with exclusive packing, thereby categorizing as the costliest soap in the county. The product is well accepted by the consumers due to its high quality.
The company has taken up an initiative programme to “Grow More Sandal Trees” which will enhance the forest coverage and also ensure regular availability of Sandal Wood and good earnings for the farmers. The company is selling sandalwood saplings at very subsidised price, he said.
KSDL Chairperson Veronica Cornelio presided over the inaugural function. Udupi CMC president Yuvraj, TP president Sunitha Naik, UUDA Chairman Janardhan Thonse, ZP member Mallika Ashok, Ida Gibba D’Souza, TP Vice president Ganesh Kumar and others were present.