Dairy product major, Nestle has said that it will change its brand name for milk and yoghurt products as 'Nestle a+' in India in order to create a better quality image and increase sales in the country.

Nestle India Dairy Business General Manager Kumaran Nowuram said, "The existing Nestle Milk has a consumer preference and has being doing well. We now want to take it to the next level. Relevant branding is one key element in communicating with consumers."

The Company was incorporated on 21st March, as a public limited company under the Indian Companies Act, VII of 1913. In 1921 Company obtained a priority of Certificate and imported new machinery thereby becoming the first biscuit company in India to install and run a gas oven plant. A new factory was established at Kasara Pier Road in Mumbai in 1924. In the same year, the Company became a subsidiary of Peek, Frean & Co. Ltd., U. K., a leading biscuit manufacturing company, and further strengthened its position by expanding the factories at Calcutta and Mumbai.

The tea industry of India is expecting a fall in the effective production by 120mn per kg this year. Though the weather conditions and various other aspects favor the production, but still the tea producers have made this prediction.

As per the revelation of a report, the prices of tea in the Indian market has increased due to a fall in the tea production in Jamaica by 37mn, which further resulted in a lower gross domestic production.

CNBC-TV18 poll claimed a net gain of Rs 1,332.72 crore, as ITC finally hammered the analysts’ expectations, which stated that on revenue of Rs 5,504 crore, the Company would only gain the net profit of Rs 1,271 crore.

Meanwhile, the firm’s FMCG trade industry, which embraced company’s cigarette, foods, personal care and other products services, also observed a surprising income growth of Rs 4,071.32 crore and the sources revealed that the net profit was increased to 17%.

However, throughout the same quarter, ITC’s hotel business proceedings were positioned at Rs 230.46 crore and its agro-industry also accomplished the income gains of Rs 1,701.14 crore.

Mumbai, May 9 : Fast moving consumer goods major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) Monday posted two percent decline in its net profit at Rs. 569.15 crore for the quarter ended March 31 as compared to Rs 581.2 crore during the like period last fiscal.

Total income, however, rose 13.93 percent at Rs. 5,022.59 crore during the quarter under review as compared to Rs. 4,408.65 crore during the like period of the corresponding fiscal, the company said in a regulatory filing.

We attended Dabur’s Q4FY11 conference call and post that reviewed our FY12 estimates and incorporate FY13 numbers. We see input price pressure will remain a concern for near term while expect EBITDA margin decline in long term on higher contribution from the low margin acquisition. Hence, downgrade our FY12 estimates by 4%. We see Hobi and Namaste combined will contribute 13% of sales and 10% of the EBITDA in FY13.

Technical analyst Sudarshan Sukhani has maintained 'buy' rating on Godrej Industries Limited stock with a target of Rs 195.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock with trailing stop loss of Rs 180.

The stock of the company, on April 27, closed at Rs 188.60 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 247.70 and a low of Rs 144.70 on BSE.

Current EPS is -0.16.

Nestle’s Q1CY11 numbers were better than our expectation on margin surprise. Net sales growth of 22% was slightly ahead of our 21% growth expectation. Gross margins expanded by 93bps on better product mix and partial offset of promotional offers. Staff cost and other expenditures grew by 21% and 24% respectively and resulted in 64bps jump in EBITDA margin. Depreciation cost was lower than our expectation and translated in 27% growth in the net profits to Rs2.6bn.

Technical analyst Shardul Kulkarni of Angel Broking has maintained 'buy' rating on Hindustan Unilever Limited stock with a target of Rs 288-290.

The analyst said that the investors can buy the stock with a stop loss of Rs 272.

The shares of the company, on April 19, closed at Rs 276.95 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 329.45 and a low of Rs 225 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 9.16 and 30.48 respectively.

Technical analyst Pradeep Surekha has maintained 'hold' rating on Hindustan Unilever Limited stock with a stop loss of Rs 265.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock has resistance of Rs 280.

The stock of the company, on April 11, closed at Rs 329.45 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 9.16 and 30.46 respectively.

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 329.45 and a low of Rs 222.10 on BSE.

Technical analyst PK Agarwal of Purpleline Investment is bullish on ITC Limited and has maintained 'hold' rating on the stock to attain a target of Rs 180.

Mr. Agarwal said that the stock can be purchased with a stop loss of Rs 163.

Today, the stock of the company opened at Rs 168.85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 184.70 and a low of Rs 128.50 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 6.17 and 27.57 respectively.

Firstcall Research has recommended buy rating on Nestle India stock to achieve a target of Rs 4001.

Today, the stock of the company opened at Rs 3571 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 4199.40 and a low of Rs 2570 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 86.32 and 41.72 respectively.

The company is present in the Indian market for about 9 decades.

We initiate coverage on Nestle with a Sell recommendation and a TP of Rs3,208. We believe entry of new players in the hitherto-secure noodles segment challenges Nestle’s ‘cash cow’. Further, we believe the premium enjoyed by the stock vis-à-vis FMCG peers is unjustified and would correct.

Volume to drive growth

United States finance regulator is probing bribery charges against Cadbury India. Kraft Foods Inc. revealed in its regulatory filing that US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has opened an investigation against company for bribe charge in its India operations.

The company said in the filing that it has received an enquiry from SEC about its Cadbury India plant. Cadbury has its manufacturing plants in India in states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. SEC is considering a potential violation of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act on the company.

Chennai based Amrutanjan Health Care Ltd. has planned to acquire soft-drink and fruit beverage business of Siva' Soft Drink Private Ltd. This acquisition will also hand popular brand currently owned by Siva's Soft Drink, Fruitnik.

Fruitnik is a pulp-based flavored fruit drink. This brand was launched in 1958 and is popular brand in southern India.

Established 118 years before, Amrutanjan Health Care owns popular Amrutanjan pain relief brand. Besides this pain relief, company has variety of health care products in market. With this acquisition, company showed its commitment to enter and expand food and beverage market. This acquisition is worth Rs. 262 million, company said in a filing to the stock exchange.

Technical analyst Anil Singhvi has maintained 'buy' rating on ITC Limited stock with an intra-day target of Rs 162.

According to analyst, the stock can be purchased with a stop loss of Rs 150.

The stock of the company, on February 09, marked its closure at Rs 153.75 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 184.70 and a low of Rs 116.62 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 6.17 and 25.59 respectively.

Dabur’s Q3FY11 numbers were in line with our expectations. Net sales growth of 17% was driven by 10% volume growth, ~4%price & currency fluctuations and ~3% on acquisition of Hobi. Spike in RM prices led to gross margins declining 290bps. However, EBITDA margins were flat as SG&A and staff expenses were under control. Higher taxes have restricted the 16% EBITDA growth in 12% PAT growth. We retain our FY12 earnings estimates and maintain BUY with a TP of Rs110.

Strong growth in Foods

Colgate’s Q3FY11 numbers were below our forecasts owing to an unexpected increase in SG&A expenditure. Net sales grew 14%, led by 12% volume growth. The merger of Professional Oral Care (POC) and CC Healthcare (CC) resulted in 360bps rise in gross margins, but other expenditure (% of sales) increased 391bps.

Technical analyst Salil Sharma has maintained 'buy' rating on Hindustan Unilever Limited with a target of Rs 318.

According to analyst, the investors can buy the stock with a stop loss of Rs 305.

The stock of the company, on January 11, closed at Rs 309 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 329.45 and a low of Rs 219 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 9.31 and 32.90 respectively.

Technical analyst Husseini Wadharia of Techno Shares has maintained 'buy' rating on Dabur India Limited stock with an intra-day target of Rs 107.

According to analyst, the investors can purchase the stock with a stop loss of Rs 97.

The stock of the company, on January 10, closed at Rs 101.30 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The share price has seen a 52-week high of Rs 112.32 and a low of Rs 77.50 on BSE.

Current EPS & P/E ratio stood at 3.10 and 33.16 respectively.