Cosmetics & Toiletries
Dona Products To Leverage On Halal Certification
By Bernama
Sep 24, 2005, 09:53

Dona Products To Penetrate Arab And African Markets

PORT KLANG, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- NRC Industries Sdn Bhd, which manufactures the Dona personal care products, expects to penetrate the international markets especially the Arab and African countries mid next year.

The company's executive chairman Tan Sri Norian Mai is confident that this could be achieved as its products have been certified as "halal" by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in June last year (Jakim).

"Halal products are more readily accepted by the population there who are mostly Muslims," he told reporters after witnessing the opening of the company's plant and an agreement signing to appoint Dona's exclusive distributor, by Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Shafie Apdal, here Tuesday.

Luen Heng Agency Sdn Bhd was appointed the local exclusive distributor for Dona products.

NRC Industries, a small and medium industry (SMI), was set up in November 2003.

Beginning mid last year, the company has succeeded in marketing 45 Dona products in the local market, including soap, tooth paste, powder, shampoo, bath gel and body lotions.

When asked how the products fare in the local market, Norian said that with production of more than 16 million bottles of liquid-based products like bath gel, cream and talcum powder, more than 18 million tubes of tooth paste, more than 18 million soaps a year, he believed that the company's products were doing well in the market.

"Dona products will be marketed at more than 30,000 premises. I have been informed that in the next few weeks, the products can be obtained from the shelves at almost all hypermarkets, supermarkets and other outlets like Giant, Jusco, Makro and Carrefour," he said.

He said that the products would be increased from time to time, especially by next year to cater for the expected rise in demand.

"We are currently carrying out research and development at our laboratory for new products to be introduced," he said.

Meanwhile, Shafie said that the ministry did not want the relationship between the SMI and hypermarkets to be based on competition, rather it should be based on the "business matching" concept. He said that relationships based on competition would only result in SMI entrepreneurs facing difficulties in marketing their products to the hypermarkets which in turn would make if difficult for them to penetrate a wider market.

As such, he said it is hoped that the set up of the steering committee for the development and marketing of SMI and rural area products could act as a channel for SMIs and help them market their products to the hypermarkets more easily.



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