The Hindu : Business : Range of Freshtech Ultima refrigerators from Samsung

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Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009
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Range of Freshtech Ultima refrigerators from Samsung

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: SATISH. H

ENERGY-EFFICIENT: R. Zutshi (left), Deputy Managing Director, Samsung India, with Dia Mirza, actor, launching the largest five-star rated refrigerator range in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: Samsung India is expecting a growth of 27 per cent in 2009 and is planning to clock a turnover of $2 billion in the country as against $1.7 billion last year.

Addressing a press conference here after the national launch of Samsung Freshtech Ultima refrigerators in the market, Deputy Managing Director of the company R. Zutshi said that 27 models of air-conditioners were launched in February this year. The economic slowdown did not affect the home appliances business.

Sales of frost-free refrigerators were growing at 42 per cent. The company would invest $8 million towards R&D in the home appliances segment. The 1,000-strong R&D staff worked for products for domestic market as well as the foreign countries.

The company launched 71 refrigerators in the price range of Rs. 9,350-25,200. The company was looking at enhancing its market share from 18 per cent to 26 per cent. A new testing lab was set up in Noida. The cool pack technology, embedded in the new range of Freshtech Ultima models, would keep the items in the freezer cool in spite of longer hours of power cuts with the help of a coolant. Model Diya Mirza launched the new range of fridges.

Our Delhi correspondent writes:

According to Mr. Zutshi, all the frost-free refrigerators were equipped with a unique freshness lamp that keeps fruits and vegetables naturally fresh for a longer period. “Given the growing environmental consciousness among consumers and Samsung’s own initiative towards producing eco-friendly products, we have introduced 71 ‘5 Star’ rated models that reflect the highest rating in terms of energy efficiency as awarded by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). For saving energy when the refrigerator is not in use, these models have the ‘E-Saver’ mode, which when switched on, keeps the freezer running but turns off the fridge,” Mr. Zutshi said. Samsung is also planning to increase its market share. “Based on our innovative new range introduction, our channel expansion and our new marketing campaign to support this range, we are looking at attaining a 26-per cent market share in the refrigerator market in India by 2009,” he added. Samsung is also aiming at establishing its leadership in the frost-free refrigerator market by achieving a 50-per cent growth in the segment.

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