Whalesbook
New Jammu Plant Drives Premium Battery Growth
Eveready Industries' new alkaline battery plant in Jammu represents a ₹200 crore investment aimed at boosting its premium product lines. This facility is the first of its kind in the SAARC region and is designed to act as a key import substitute, strengthening the company's position in the market.
Boosting Profits and Market Share
Executives expect the Jammu facility to improve profit margins by at least 10% through shifting production onshore. This focus on profitability supports Eveready's strategy to move into higher-value segments. The plant benefits from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and has a maximum annual capacity for 360 million alkaline batteries, along with producing 7 million flashlights and 6 million LED lights.
Alkaline Batteries Gain Traction
Eveready currently leads the carbon zinc battery market with a 52% share, but the alkaline segment is growing rapidly at 20% annually, unlike the flat carbon zinc market. Following the relaunch of its Ultima brand, Eveready's share in alkaline batteries has risen to 15% from 2%. The new plant is set to help the company target a 20% share in this growing category.
Global Ambitions and Exports
The plant is positioned not only to meet domestic demand but also to supply competitors who currently rely on imports. Eveready is also exploring export markets in Europe, the U.S., and West Asia for white-label manufacturing, aligning with current global supply chain shifts. This project marks Eveready's first major manufacturing expansion in over ten years, signaling a new phase under the Burman family's leadership since 2022.