The Himalaya Drug Company launched its new product- Himalaya Forest Honey, here on Tuesday. It also announced its plans for a new research and development center and manufacturing campus at Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bangalore, at an estimated cost of Rs 165 crore which would begin in August.

S.K.Mitra, Executive Director Research and Technical Services, Himalaya Drug, said Himalaya Forest Honey was 100 percent natural, collected from the rich tropical forests in South and Central India by native experts. "We have entered into tie-ups with several native co-operatives across forests of India and trained them intensively. These co-operative societies procure honey for us. The honey is then cleaned and bottled using modern scientific methods under strict hygienic conditions. There is no sugar, no preservative and no diluting agents in it. It is completely natural," he said.

Mitra added that there is no expiry date on their honey product, but it could be used for three years.

Ravi Prasad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Himalaya Drugs, said the product would be available at Himalaya's retail outlets, all leading pharmacies and departmental stores in the country. "We are looking to take around 10 percent of the market share during the current fiscal year in the organized sector, which is worth around Rs 45 crore.
We will be advertising extensively and our main focus area for brand target will be the key consumer - lady of the household, the Mother," Prasad said.

On plans for the new research and development center, he said it would be built on a 200 acre plot.

"It will be an international grade modern facility and will have prior approvals from international bodies, which means that the factory will comply with standards set for pharmaceutical products all over the world." The center would be ready tentatively by 2005.

Prasad also said the company had reached a total turnover of Rs 300 crore last year, of which the pure herbs segment estimated for around 8- 9 percent.