Ramesh Flowers Plans To Set Up Candle Unit

Tuticorin-based Ramesh Flowers (P) Ltd, one of the leading dry flower exporters in the country, is planning to set up a candle manufacturing unit in Tuticorin. The company is investing close to about Rs 5 crore for the project.

Mrs Manju Singhwi, director of the company told òf48óFEòf45ó that "there is huge demand for candles in the international market especially in the US and Europe. We already have presence in these countries through huge departmental stores like `Walmart' and British Home Stores. Leveraging on this, the company will start exporting candles."

The company exports potpourri and fragrance products, bouquets, topiaries, floral accessories and incense sticks to international markets with major presence in the US and Europe.

She said, the project is still on the drawing board stage and would be finalised soon. "We are planning to set up a state-of-the-art facility in Tuticorin with an investment of Rs 5 crore. The facility will focus only on the export market as the domestic market is still nascent," she added.

Talking about the IT initiatives of the company, Mrs Manju Singhwi said, Ramesh Flowers was the first to implement Navision financials, an ERP based financial software to run the business more efficiently. The whole process of the company right from buying to exporting, payroll system, attendance is under ERP. The company has also brought smart card interface under this system.

"We are in the process of upgrading our ERP software and it should be completed by March 2004," she said adding the company has invested close to about Rs 15 lakh in the initiative.