New Delhi : Bolstered by the Bombay High Court order overturning ban on Maggi, Nestle India plans to bring back the popular instant noodles back in the market by end of this year subject to certain clearances,, reports PTI.
The company, which has taken a hit of Rs 450 crore, including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned because of alleged excessive lead content, says it will continue with the existing formula of the product and not change the ingredients.
“We will try and target something that is better than that. My desire is to do it before that but let’s see,” Nestle India Managing Director Suresh Narayanan told PTI when asked whether Maggi noodles could be back in the market by start of the next year.
He said as per court directives, this quarter it would go in for testing of Maggi samples at three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which are accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). “By the time we get everything done (all clearances), it will be middle of September. I can tell you this quarter no, unlikely. Subsequent quarter, we will try (to bring back Maggi),” Narayanan said. He said the company has to test the Maggi samples within six weeks and after that it would start manufacturing and then the noodles would be tested again.
Acknowledging that the ban has ‘dented’ the company, Narayanan said the company has to win back consumer confidence and will “spend aggressively” on rebuilding the brand from a “zero” level through customer engagement activities and advertisements. When asked if the company would consider seeking damages from food regulators on the back of Bombay High Court judgement, Narayanan remained non-committal said the company’s focus would be to bring back Maggi as soon as possible, look ahead and move on while working together with authorities.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry has filed a class action suit against Nestle India seeking about Rs 640 crore in damages for alleged unfair trade practices, false labeling and misleading advertisements.
