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Vol.
2 :: No. 11 October, 2000 (Aswin-Kartik)) |
Recent Launches
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Recent Launches |
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expanding fleet and increasing flight frequencies, some Nepali airline companies are
offering discounted fares to lure the customers. But Necon Air Ltd. has introduced a
frequent flyer program called Necon Premier, the first of its kind introduced by any
Nepali airline. Introduced from October 1, 2000, soon after the airline observed its 8th anniversary, Necon Premier is based on mileage card concept, and any Nepali resident in the age group 15-65 can subscribe to the program by filling up a form and submitting it with a used ticket or boarding pass to the company. The member receives Necon Premier mileage card and every time the member flies Necon Air, certain number of miles, depending upon the destination he or she flies, are credited to the member’s account. |
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When enough miles are accumulated, the member can redeem them by flying free of cost to any of the Necon destinations that can be covered by the accumulated miles.For example, every one-way flight between Janakpur and Kathmandu yield the member 70 mileage points while a mountain flight yields 500 miles. Once the member collects 1000 or more points, they can be used for one way flight free of cost to either Janakpur, Pokhara or Bhairahawa, keeping the balance for future use.
Explaining the reason for keeping the offer open to only 15-65 year age group, Necon Air sources say it is because the company is already offering special discounts to children and the elderly. According to the discounts scheme of Necon, children below two years are provided 90% discount and those between 2-12 years get 50% discounts. Similarly, students get 25% discounts while those above 65 years in age are provided 50% discount on the normal fare.
At present, Necon is conducting scheduled mountain flights and flights to Varanasi and Patna of India in addition to six domestic destinations with Avro and ATR-42 craft. From November 2000, the airline is to have more ATR-42s added to its fleet. The first and only private sector Nepali airline so far to fly across the borders, Necon is also planning to add Indian cities of Lucknow, Calcutta and Delhi to its destinations.
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Nepal Grindlays Bank
Ltd. has launched Grindlays 24 Hour Bank by installing Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at
four stations of Kathmandu and one of Pokhara.Though late than some of the competing banks
in installing ATM, Grindlays has claimed that its ATMs have some added advantages over
those of the competitors. Grindlays ATMs accept credit cards and other international cards. Moreover, holders of Access card, that Nepal Grindlays is providing to all its personal accountholders, can use any of the Grindlays 24 Hour Bank to obtain the services no matter which branch they hold their account in. "At Nepal Grindlays Bank Ltd. you are the customer of the Bank and not just of a branch", said RJ Cox, CEO of the bank announcing the launch of the new services on September 25.The Grindlays ATMs are at present installed at Naya Baneswor and Kantipath branch of the bank and also at Thamel (near Ying Yang Restaurant) and Pulchowk (near UN Complex). In Pokhara, a machine is installed at Lakeside. |
With Access card, the personal accountholders of Nepal Grindlays can withdraw and deposit cash from and into their accounts, transfer funds between accounts, and request for mini statements and cheque book. In addition to the customers of the bank itself, the Nepal Grindlays ATMs will also serve foreigners and locals who hold International Visa card, MastarCard or domestic Visa Credit Card (valid in India and Nepal).
According to Cox, the bank has plans to make this service available to a larger customer base by installing a few more of these machines in Kathmandu and other parts of the country in the coming year.
| Himalayan
Hygienic Snax and Noodles (P) Ltd. (HHSN), the newest company under Khetan Group, has
launched Mayos brand of instant noodles in Nepal in technical collaboration with Thai
President Food PCL of Thailand. The company says that it targets to capture 50% market share in Nepal within three years. However, the brand is not a foreign one, but Nepali and owned by HHSN.Priced at Rs. 11 per packet of 75 grams for the consumers, Mayos is being marketed aggressively as a premium product. While the ads for all the existing instant noodles seem to be directed specifically to the children, Mayos ads seem to be focused more on the family. |
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The introductory ad for the product shows it served on a dinner table and carries the slogan " Full Meal". Existing noodle brands are being projected more as snacks. However, with the launch of Mayos some existing brands have started reciprocating the new competitor in the marketing drive by issuing equally aggressive ads.
Mayos, like other noodles, makes use of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), also known as Azinomoto, but it is within the limits prescribed by WHO, claims HHSN indicating indirectly that the competitor brands have higher levels of MSG.
Located at Banepa, the factory of HHSN was set up at an investment of Rs. 150 million and has state-of-the-art Japan made FUJI plant installed. The company has, in its press release issued on the occasion of the launching, promised that the factory is to be very conscious in maintaining environmental and hygienic standards. Thai President Food PCL has about 60% of market share in Thailand, according to HHSN.
Himalayan Bank Ltd. has introduced in Nepal MoneyGram, a 10-minute person-to-person money transfer service.
According to sources at Himalayan Bank, MoneyGram was started in 1988 by Integrated Payment Services which is a division of US-based data processing company First Data Corporation. In 1996, MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. was floated on the New York Stock Exchange.
MoneyGram Payment System, inform the sources, in based in Denver, USA where it has a call center that handles transactions for all non-automated agents and answers customer queries on a 24-hour basis. MoneyGram is claimed to have a worldwide agent base of over 30,000 agents, enabling customers to transfer funds in over 130 countries in 10 minutes.
An extensive network of MoneyGram agents are linked by computers and "in just 10 minutes, customer’s money can be in another country waiting to be picked up at one of the agents", say the sources, and add that there is no complicated procedures involved and there is no requirement for a bank account or credit card to avail of the services.
| Only a few
months after launching the Astra brand of luxury cars from Opel – a subsidiary of
American auto giant General Motors – Vijaya Motors Pvt. Ltd. has introduced the Opel
Corsa into the Nepali market. Priced between Rs. 13,84,000 and 16,20,000 depending on the variant, the main selling points of the Corsa, according to company sources, are air-conditioning and heater, central lock system, side impact beams, child safety lock, power windows and rear window defogger. Vijaya Motors claims that the Opel cars score over other cars plying Nepali roads because of increased ground clearance, strengthened suspension, adapted engine to suit adulterated fuel conditions and CFC-free air conditioning system. |
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The company assures buyers of ample spare parts availability and workshop that is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and tools.
Birganj Sugar Factory Ltd. has relaunched its 40º UP liquor brand Urvashi after about three years of being our of the market. Milan Trading Company (P) Ltd. is appointed the sole distributor of the product.
Earlier Urvashi was 40º UP and 30º UP brand, and the company claims, it was sold 62000 C/S per annum five years ago (in the year of 2052 BS to be precise). The target now is to sell about 75,000 C/S per annum. The factory has a capacity to produce 500 C/S per day.
It is also claimed that Urvashi was the first brand of Nepal in 40º UP category.
Milan Trading has appointed about 22 local distributors at various places of the country and more are in the process of being appointed, according to the company.
The changes introduced in the product are in bottle design and label. Previously, the product was presented in black, red and gold labels, whereas it is to be available now in red and black labels and in various flavours. The consumer price for the product is Rs. 144 and Rs. 143 per one litre bottle of black label and red label respectively. The half litre bottle will cost Rs. 74 and Rs. 73, while a quarter bottle is priced at Rs. 40 and Rs. 39 respectively for black and red labels.
K33 Hair Factory was officially opened in Kathmandu under the presence of K33 Group founder and CEO R.C. van Rooy.
K 33, claims the company, provides a very safe remedy for baldness with no medical or surgical procedures involved, therefore cutting out the dangers of side effect.
According to the company, K33 Europe Hair is a new European technology of hair replacement system to help people suffering from baldness. Established as a well-known brand name in Europe, K33’s expertise is now available in the Asian markets, announces the company.
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