Platinum power: Parle sets sights on ‘sizeable’ Middle East market with premium biscuits range

By Pearly Neo

- Last updated on GMT

Parle is looking to tap into premiumisation trends in the Middle East, believing that higher spending power and a demand for exclusivity are good drivers for its Platina range. ©Parle
Parle is looking to tap into premiumisation trends in the Middle East, believing that higher spending power and a demand for exclusivity are good drivers for its Platina range. ©Parle

Related tags Parle Middle east Biscuits

Indian biscuit giant Parle is looking to tap into premiumisation trends in the Middle East, believing that higher spending power and a demand for exclusivity are good drivers for its Platina range.

Parle is already a major household name for biscuits in India, best-known for its Parle-G range which targets the mass market with a focus on providing value for money.

Over in the Middle East though, Parle believes that the market demographics are now favorable for premium biscuit brand Platina which comprises several different ranges of products, in addition to its more mainstream brands.

“Many local consumers in the GCC are showing a preference for premium brands like Platina, and there is no doubt that they have more of the spending power here in order to go for more premium items,”​ Parle International Business Vice President HS Sareen told FoodNavigator-Asia​ at the recent Gulfood 2023 show.

“Coupling this with the sizeable market available here, this is a very good market for premium products with higher-value ingredients used for the chocolate, the cream, the wheat and so on as this is what they will look for.

“There is also of course a higher demand for healthier segments like gluten-free as well, but from what we are seeing in the biscuits segment here, these are still considered more of a niche segment.”

One of the major reasons for this comes down to taste, with many consumers still looking to biscuits and cookies for that indulgent consumption experience.

“We definitely are still seeing the biscuits that fall under the sweet segment, and those that have cream filling being more popular,”​ he added.

“Parle does have healthier-focused items such as Nutricrunch which is a digestive range with a focus on fibre, minerals and vitamins – but the current demand is still for regular products.

“It is why even under the premium range we have developed a wide variety of different offerings – Nutricrunch falls under here, but there is also the Hide&Seek Chocolate Chip cookies with higher-value chocolate chips and the Hide&Seek Milano centre-filled cookies, Crème Sandwiches and Black Bourbon ranges, all of which offer different indulgent consumption experiences.”

Similarity with India

Middle Eastern markets and especially Dubai have been the centre of focus for many Indian food and beverage brands over the past few years, with more and more brands looking to set up and expand stable export relationships into the region, and Parle is no different.

In addition to the spending power and large population size being attractive factors for investment, Sareen added that there are many similarities between the consumers of both markets that further drive Indian firms towards the Middle East.

“The tastes when it comes to food and beverages, and especially biscuits, are quite similar between the Indian population and the Middle Eastern population,”​ he said.

“[Even though India generally has lower spending power], we have also seen good, substantial growth in the Platina range here which shows that there is a demand for these premium products.

“Both markets also have very ethnic populations that are very fond of bakery products, which is an added benefit for a bakery company like ours as it gives us an extra edge when bakery products are already popular here.”

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Empowering Women Through the Life Cycle

Empowering Women Through the Life Cycle

Content provided by Glanbia Nutritionals | 07-Nov-2023 | Product Brochure

As discussions around female empowerment widen, and advances in women’s health access and provision accelerate, the implications for business, healthcare,...

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, Dubai, Dec 4-5

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, Dubai, Dec 4-5

Content provided by World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Dubai | 01-Nov-2023 | Event Programme

The renowned World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit has been taking place since 2013 in London, San Francisco and São Paulo. Now launching in the Middle East,...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers

F&B Trailblazers Podcast