The Indian Cheese Industry: Dabon International Private Limited
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Company profile
Dabon International Private Limited is wholly owned by the French dairy major Bongrain SA. The company began as a joint venture with Dabur India in 1996, but in June 2005, Dabur exited from the business. The company said that they had decided to exit because cheese and milk products were a 'non core' business for them. Dabon is the only international cheese company to produce and sell cheese in the country, using the brand name Le Bon. It has a state of the art facility in Noida, near Delhi. Despite having made losses, the company has been in an expansion mode, offering a selection of processed cheese products. Adapting to Indian tastes, it has also recently introduced in Delhi and Mumbai, Indian cottage cheese with the brand name 'Le Paneer'.
Dabon markets its cheese to both the retail and institutional sector.
Cheese Perpsective
Dabon focuses on the processed cheese segment, catering to both the retail and institutional markets. In the former, it has been targeting families and children ( like the other brands) and in the latter category, it has standard and customized products for fast food chains, hotels, flight caterers and restaurants. Some of its institutional clients include Domino Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Oberoi Flight Services and the Ambassador.
Besides drawing on the international cheese portfolio of its parent Bongrain SA, Dabon has realized that to compete, it has to cater to ethnic tastes. 'Le Paneer', the Indian cottage cheese variety was recently introduced as a brand in Delhi and Mumbai.
Cheese and Related products
Table 4: Dabon Products for the Retail Sector
| Cheese Product |
Description |
Maximum Retail Price |
| Le Bon Creamy n Sancky Cheese Portions |
A ready to eat snack, targeted at children. |
6 portion pack - 114g - Rs 36 Single portion - 19g - Rs 6 |
| Le Bon creamy Cheese spread (Bottled spread in two flavors: Plain and Black pepper) |
Marketed as a low fat butter substitute, with 60% less fat than butter. |
Both flavors: 200g-Rs 45 |
| Le Bon Tasty Cheese Slices ( Two flavors: Plain and Black pepper) |
A ready to eat snack, targeted at children |
Plain: 170g- Rs 57
Black Pepper: 170g- Rs 59 |
| Le Bon Grate n Garnish Cheese |
A mild processed cheese for grating and garnishing. |
Comes in 4 different pack sizes:
100g - Rs 24, 200g - Rs 46, 400g - Rs 86, 1Kg - Rs 185 |
| Le Bon Paneer |
Indian Cottage cheese |
200g: Rs 26
400g: Rs 50 |
Table 5: Dabon Products for the Institutional Sector
| Cheese Product |
Description |
| Creamy n Sancky Cheese Portions |
Suitable for in-flight meals, mini-bars and breakfast buffets. Available in 19g portions |
| Creamy Cheese spread (Two flavors: Plain and Black pepper) |
Suitable for Italian food, baked dishes and dips |
| Individually wrapped cheese Slices (Two flavors: Plain and Black pepper) |
For burgers and sandwiches. Available in 17g portions |
| Grate n Garnish Cheese |
An all purpose mild processed cheese for grating and garnishing. Available in 1kg blocks |
Cheddar Processed Cheese |
All purpose cheddar processed cheese. Available in 1kg blocks
|
| Le Bon Paneer |
Indian Cottage cheese. Available in 200g and 400g packets
|
Strategy
Dabon has played it safe in the Indian market so far, confining production and sales to the popular processed cheese and Paneer segment. It capitalizes on the fact that it uses international world class production techniques with a focus on quality and hygiene. Bongrain SA obviously believes in the potential for cheese in India, incresing its investment in the country despite having its joint venture partner Dabur pull out.
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