Top 5 Indian brands to look out for in 2010

India's largest dairy co-operative, Amul is eyeing a big leap with Rs 10, 000 crore turnover next fiscal. Then there are other Indian brands such as Bharat Electronics, Mahindra Group, Bharti Airtel and Dabur who have established themselves as frontrunners across the sectors. Some of them are fast emerging as the face of India Inc in markets across the world. A quick glance at the top five brands of India to look out for in 2010. These are the names who are either likely to hit Rs 10,000 crore turnover in the near future or they have already surpassed this figure in terms of sales.

The birth of Amul at Anand, Gujarat in 1946 provided the much needed boost to the cooperative dairy movement in the country. Looking at the consistant growth so far, Amul hopes to cross the turnover of more than Rs 10,000 crore in the next fiscal. Photo Courtesy: Amul India

Amul: The Taste of India

Constituted in 1946, the home-grown Amul, has made a big contribution in making India the world's largest milk and milk products producer.

"In the current financial year, Amul is expecting a turnover of over Rs 8,000 crore and with the kind of growth we are witnessing, Amul would cross the turnover of more than Rs 10,000 crore in the next fiscal," Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) Managing Director B M Vyas told PTI.

Vyas added, that the group turnover of all the 13 co-operative units has already surpassed Rs 11, 000 crore mark in the current fiscal itself.

However, success stories of emerging brands of India do not stop at Amul.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactures advanced electronic products for the Indian defence system. BEL was a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in which along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it developed India's medium range surface-to-air missile, Akash (shown in picture). Photo Courtesy: Reuters

BEL: The missile maker

The Bangalore-based Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), with Navratna status conferred by the government, is chasing a turnover target of Rs 10, 000 crore by 2012. BEL is the only company that has business presence across the Indian defence system. To achieve the target, BEL plans to utilise facilities available in its nine factories across the countries and avoid making huge investments.

BEL's chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt, in an interview with country's leading business daily, said, "BEL has appointed KPMG, a global consulting firm, to help identify future market opportunities for growth. The idea is to get into these fields in the next three to four years and generate an additional Rs 500 crore business annually."

"We have set a challenging target because it gives direction to our employees. It is feasible because of some specific things happening. The order book is very large for radar and naval systems. Our strategic business units (SBUs) at Ghaziabad and Bangalore is well equipped. We have bagged a huge order for a missile system, for which work is being done at the Bangalore complex," Datt added.

Anand Mahindra, Mahindra Group Managing Director and Vice Chairman. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

Mahindra: Skyward bound

Meanwhile, the Mahindra Group's initiative to build aircraft is creating ripples in the business world. By doing this, Mahindra Group has become the first private conglomerate to step in to aircraft manufacturing sector. With sales of Rs 29, 358 crore, the Group recently bought two Australian aerospace firms, Aerostaff Australia and Gippsland Aeronautics."As a result of this acquisition, we now have an opportunity to play in the offset space," Mahindra Systech President Hemant Luthra told a leading business daily.

According to analysts, Mahindra's acquisition of these firms would not just give them access to technology, but also certification procedures that is required to bid for large projects from global plane makers like Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS.

A man talks on a mobile phone in front of advisements of Bharti Airtel in the eastern Indian city of Siliguri. Airtel is India's largest telecom operator with more than 110 million users and an approximate annual turnover of Rs 55, 998 crore. Photo Courtesy: Reuters

Bharti Airtel: Posting 17% growth

From the telecom sector, Bharti Airtel, India's largest telecom operator with more than 110 million users and an approximate annual turnover of Rs 55, 998 crore.

According to the company's website, by the end of first quarter of fiscal year on June 30, 2009, the company had (income) of Rs. 237.9 crore and revenues of Rs. 9941.6 crores, a growth of 17% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Bharti Airtel is already present in all the 22 licensed jurisdictions in India and in Sri Lanka. Last month, it made an appearance in Bangladesh with $30 crore initial investment proposal to buy a 70 per cent stake in Bangladesh's mobile company Warid.

With this, Bharti became the first Indian telecom operator to enter Bangladesh's mobile market.

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has also stepped in to the mobile applications market. With over 1200 applications, it has become the first Indian teleco to follow Apple's highly successful business model.

Dabur stands tall as one of the trustworthy Indian brands. Photo Courtesy: Dabur

Dabur: 125 years and going strong

From FMCG sector, Dabur has come a long way since its establishment as a ayurvedic company back in 1884. Today, with an annual turnover of Rs 2800 crore and market capitalisation over Rs 10, 000 crore, it has become one of the leading FMCG companies of the country. Dabur is eyeing a Rs 4,000-5,000 crore turnover by 2009-10.

With over 125 years of experience, Dabur has carved out an identity of its own in ayurvedic and natural health care products. Dabur managed to stay on and generate better turnovers with each passing year by keeping both loyal customers and new generation possible customers in mind. Dabur has now ventured in to the modern lifestyle products sector as well with a range of products for the youth.