08/2008 - Indian tiles blog - Morbi ::: Ceramic wall | Vitrified | Digital tiles

Tata Ceramics (http://www.tata.com/company/profile.aspx?sectid=j8AJ8Y9w9J8=) is entering to the retail business in India after establishing themselves with international brands and overseas hospitality market.

Unveiling the company’s plan for the retail business in India, Munish Gupta, managing director of Tata Ceramics Limited said, “With the change in lifestyle of people, we feel that the Indian market is now ready for such high end ceramic products and this is the right time to enter the market as the sector still remains very unorganised and cottage industry oriented.”

Tata Ceramics has refused to cut corners on the safety front. "We operate in an international market where there are stringent requirements on heavy-metal release," says Mr Gupta. The company’s products conform to international norms on lead and cadmium release. It has recently switched to lead-free glazing. That it imports 70 per cent of the raw material used in its ‘safety-first’ processes means that the products cost more.

Having begun its operations through their manufacturing facility in Cochin, TC was all this while catering to leading world crockery brands like Wedgewood. Royal Doulton, Villeroy Boch, Richard Genori and Spode.

“Ceramics at our Cochin plant were exported to these international brands,” said Gupta. Apart from that in India TC, also supplied to major hotel chains like the Taj Group and ITC group of hotels.

Pune is the first city from where the retail venture of TC would begin.Company has also launched new display showroom at Ahmedabad. The company has tied up with city-based GV Puntambekar and Sons Private limited who would be their distributor for Maharashtra and Goa. “We will effectively contribute in TC’s business plans for the retail market as well as the hospitality trade,” said Ramesh Puntambekar, managing director of the distribution arm. The items would also be sold through selected Westside and other high end retail outlets. After Pune, TC would spread operations to the north and south in India.

Manufactured at Cochin, TC makes close to eight million units per year. Plans are also there for capacity expansion of the plant depending on the market response.