Revamping Rasna – A Marketing Overhaul Saga

RASNA WAKES UP TO THE CHALLENGE Contd...

Despite its efforts, the woes of Rasna increased through the late 1990s and 2000. Rasna SDC's volume continued to shrink by over 7% every year. Moreover, the steadily increasing prices of Rasna SDC, over the years proved to be another significant hurdle for Pioma. Initially priced between Rs 8-10, Rasna SDC was sought by the middle-class family as an affordable hospitality drink during the 1980s. By the late 1990s, it had gone up to Rs 22-24, which according to the analysts was supposedly above the reach of its target audience. However, company sources argued that the rise in prices had been in line with the inflation through the years and was always in the affordable range.

FACING CHALLENGES – THE SECOND INNING

The major thrust of the company's restructuring exercise was to reach out to the masses and create brand awareness in towns and remote villages. Emphasis was also laid on the availability of Rasna products in the price range of 80 paise per glass to Rs 4 per glass. Till now, Rasna was available only in two price segments – Rs 4 and Re 1. The company's principal focus in 2002 was to increase the number of segments to make Rasna products more affordable to larger various sections of society. The company also extended its strategy of Rasna being a mass drink to its global markets. Commenting on this, Khambatta said, “We have made sure that the Rasna International brand is placed along with the other preparatory soft drink brands such as Tang in international retail stores, and not in the Indian foods counter in those stores.”

Rasna's revamping exercise included increasing the per capita consumption of Rasna from 15 to 100 glasses, reaching across to all sectors of society and age groups. Moreover, plans were also made to foray into related segments in the food sector in the next two years and strengthen its global operations. Efforts were also made to establish itself as one of India's top 10 products in terms of brand recall and visibility and become one of the top 20 most admired companies in the country. Rasna announced these plans in early 2002 and called the overall exercise as the ‘Rasna for one billion Indians'project.

Khambatta, explaining the company's new marketing strategy said, “We are implementing a strategy through which we wish to make consumers drink more Rasna as well as get new people accustomed to the brand. We have come out with more product offerings to attract the new consumers. For those who are already used to the Rasna taste, we have brought out value-added products. We are more aware than anybody else about the price-centric behavior of the Indian market and have accordingly positioned our products.”

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TABLE I RASNA'S NEW BRAND PROFILE

HOPING FOR A SWEET FUTURE

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

EXHIBIT I RASNA –INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE & OFFERINGS

EXHIBIT II SOFT DRINK MARKET IN INDIA

ADDITIONAL READINGS & REFERENCES

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