Britannia Bel Foods on Wednesday announced that the company is further strengthening its joint venture with the inauguration of its cheese factory in India, dedicated to the local production of Britannia The Laughing Cow products. With Maharashtra being a leading state in India for milk production and boasting a mature well integrated dairy ecosystem, it makes for an ideal choice for the Cheese factory location within Britannia’s Dairy food park in Ranjangaon.
In a regulatory filing, Britannia said that the plant is fully integrated with a robust milk procurement program, sourcing around 4 lakh liters of 100 per cent cow milk daily from over 3,000 farmers in Pune and surrounding areas. Britannia has scaled up the milk procurement program within a few years to 70 Village-Level Bulk Milk Coolers installed within a 100 km radius from the factory, spanning 10 tehsils in Pune and near districts. “This initiative supports local farmers, ensures a sustainable supply chain, and reinforces Britannia’s commitment to community and agricultural development,” it said.
With an investment of nearly Rs 220 crore from the joint venture including the Britannia Dairy facilities being leveraged, the new Greenfield factory is located in one of Maharashtra’s largest food parks. Equipped with 5 production lines, the facility boasts a total production capacity of approximately 6,000 tons per year for natural cheese varieties like cheddar and mozzarella, and around 10,000 tons per year for processed cheese.
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Further, the company said that the establishment will create numerous job opportunities, significantly boosting local employment and contributing to the region’s economic growth. “Over the past few years, the Maharashtra state government has extended immense support for the Britannia Mega Food Factory at Ranjangaon recognizing it as an Ultra Mega project and providing Britannia with a customized incentive package. This has enabled facilities for manufacturing the entire product range of Britannia across biscuits, cake, rusk, croissant, salted snacks, wafers, dairy drinks & powders & cheese. Further, the seamless approval cadence of the state government for plans, licenses, infrastructure, development, power and several other factors have greatly benefited this strategic investment,” it said.
Varun Berry, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Britannia Industries, said, “Britannia is deeply committed to the well-being and prosperity of the milk farming communities that are at the heart of our business. Supporting over 3,000 milk farmers, our integrated farmer support program focuses on empowering them through sustainable cattle management, breeding, and feeding practices. By harnessing our integrated milk procurement program, we are setting new benchmarks in quality and sustainability while empowering dairy farmers at the core of our supply chain. The choice of Ranjangaon is a strategic one, as Maharashtra’s leadership in milk production aligns with our vision to create a hub for premium, locally sourced dairy products. We believe the new cheese facility will further strengthen Britannia and Bel Group’s strategic partnership and commitment to driving growth and innovation in the industry.”
Cécile Béliot, CEO of Bel Group, said, “At Bel Group, we aim at contributing to healthier and more sustainable food, creating value alongside our ecosystem, with accessible products answering local nutritional needs. I believe that Britannia and Bel, through this joint venture, and even more now with the opening of this factory, have the right know-how and market capabilities at hand to take a leading position with Britannia The Laughing Cow in India.”
Abhishek Sinha, CEO, Britannia Bel Foods Private Limited, said, “Britannia Bel Foods’s state-of-the-art Cheese facility brings the best of Bel Groups’ global expertise to India, combining cutting-edge technology with world-class manufacturing standards. This plant embodies our commitment to delivering premium, locally made Cheese that meets the highest benchmarks in quality and innovation. This facility further solidifies the relationship between Britannia and Bel, and the journey of further strengthening our Cheese business in India, supported with a fully integrated dairy program. With this, we are poised to offer Indian consumers an unmatched Cheese experience, tailored to their evolving tastes.’
From: financialexpress
Financial News
