The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry
Soufflet Malt has today (20 February 2026) announced plans to build a tech-driven, AI-integrated malting facility in South Rajasthan, India, as part of an INR 1,200 crore (approx. €100 million) investment.
The new facility aims to play a key role in strengthening India’s local malt supply for beer, distilling and F&B brands, with customer contracts already secured. It aligns with the company’s Maltiply 2030 strategy, which focuses on unlocking the potential of malt through its integration into broader food and beverage categories.
Initially, the site will have a malt production capacity of 110,000 tonnes annually, with plans for a second phase expansion to increase capacity. The first phase is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2028.
With digital innovation forming a key pillar of the Maltiply 2030 strategy, the new malthouse will be driven by Maltimize, the company’s digitalisation platform.
The platform will process data insights and analytics to improve malthouse performance, through AI technology that enables benefits such as optimising process duration, analysing yield performance, monitoring energy consumption and improving quality and yield.
Sustainability will also be a key focus, with the factory prioritising the use of green energy such as biofuel for heat energy. A zero liquid discharge system will also be in place alongside advanced water management and carbon reduction initiatives. Digitalised grain handling and traceability systems will help to ensure efficiency and transparency of operations.
The new malthouse is expected to create 400 direct and indirect jobs, along with 700 positions across the supply chain. The company’s ecosystem, including logistics providers and warehousing partners, will support additional industries and businesses in Rajasthan.
Soufflet Malt will also work with more than 50,000 Indian farmers to support rural growth with skills development and sustainable farming practices. Farmers will also benefit from access to high-yield barley varieties, supported by an agronomist network, allowing for greater income stability and market access.
The company plans to source up to 250,000 tonnes of barley annually when the malthouse will run at full capacity, following the second phase expansion.
Jorge Solis, CEO of Soufflet Malt, said: “Together, we are creating jobs, strengthening agriculture and supporting the region’s long-term development. Aligned with India’s ambition to modernise agriculture and enhance food security, this investment brings our agronomic and industrial expertise together with advanced technologies to deliver a state-of-the-art malthouse and unleash the full potential of malt in India.”
Soufflet Malt’s existing operations in India include a malthouse in Alwar, Rajasthan, with a capacity of 18,000 tonnes. The company has been collaborating here with local growers since 2014 to cultivate premium-quality barley.
The latest investment in India follows news last week that the company broke ground on a €100 million malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng, South Africa, marking one of the most significant recent investments in South Africa’s brewing and agricultural value chain.
