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Britannia Bel Foods, a joint venture between Britannia Industries and Bel Group, has opened a new INR 220 crores (approx. $26.2 million) cheese factory in Maharashtra, India, nearly two years after the partnership was established.
In a statement, Bel Group said that Maharashtra is a top state in India for milk production and has a well integrated dairy ecosystem, "making it the ideal location for the cheese factory location within Britannia’s dairy food park in Ranjangaon".
The factory will focus on local production of Britannia’s The Laughing Cow products.
The factory has a robust milk procurement programme, sourcing around 400,000 litres of 100% cow’s milk daily from over 3,000 farmers in Pune and nearby areas. To enhance this process, Britannia has installed 70 Village-Level Bulk Milk Coolers within a 100km radius of the factory. Britannia's Milk Collection Centers are equipped to test raw milk quality across 51 parameters before acceptance at the factory.
The factory features five production lines with an annual capacity of about 6,000 tons for natural cheese varieties, like cheddar and mozzarella, and 10,000 tons for processed cheese. This facility is expected to create jobs and contribute to local economic growth.
The Laughing Cow products have been adapted to the Indian market to align with local preferences and nutritional needs. The recipe includes five essential nutrients: protein, calcium, vitamins A, D and B12. The use of 100% local ingredients emphasises the brand’s commitment to the Indian market, with all ingredients sourced and processed domestically at the new factory.
Varun Berry, executive vice chairman and MD of 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 strengthening Britannia and Bel Group’s strategic partnership and commitment to driving growth and innovation in the industry.”
Cécile Béliot, CEO of Bel Group, commented: “I am proud to celebrate with Britannia the start of a state-of-the-art cheese factory leveraging the Bel 160-years legacy of operation on cheese. It is also a great moment to celebrate the growth of the national distribution of our Britannia The Laughing Cow range of products, and our triangular portion of processed cheese specifically developed and designed to please millions of children in India."
"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 of Britannia Bel Foods, added: “Britannia Bel Foods’s state-of-the-art cheese facility brings the best of Bel Foods’ 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.”
Top image: © Bel UK
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