Britannia Bel Foods, a prominent player in India’s cheese market, has celebrated a significant milestone nearly two years after its establishment as a joint venture. The company has inaugurated its new cheese factory in Maharashtra, dedicated to producing Britannia The Laughing Cow products locally, further demonstrating its commitment to delivering high-quality products to Indian consumers.
Maharashtra, being a leading state in milk production with a well-integrated dairy ecosystem, was the ideal choice for the factory’s location within Britannia’s Dairy Food Park in Ranjangaon. The new facility underscores Britannia’s focus on supporting local milk farmers through a robust milk procurement program, which sources approximately 4 lakh liters of 100% cow’s milk daily from over 3,000 farmers in Pune and nearby areas. To enhance its milk procurement efforts, Britannia has installed 70 Village-Level Bulk Milk Coolers within a 100 km radius of the factory, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable supply chains and community development.
Britannia’s Milk Collection Centers are equipped with advanced testing capabilities, ensuring that raw milk quality is assessed against 31 quality parameters on-site, and an additional 20 parameters during unloading. This stringent quality control process is vital for maintaining the high standards of the products.
To further support the local community of its 3,000+ milk farmers, Britannia operates an integrated support program focusing on three key pillars: management, breeding, and feeding of cattle. This initiative includes door-to-door animal health camps, farmer training programs, distribution of quality fodder seeds, and transparent payment services. The farmer support program is integrated with Britannia’s village development and malnourishment programs, backed by the Sir Ness Wadia Foundation and Britannia Nutrition Foundation.
The newly inaugurated Greenfield factory represents an investment of approximately INR 220 crores from the joint venture, leveraging existing Britannia Dairy facilities. The factory is equipped with five production lines, boasting a total production capacity of around 6,000 tons per year for natural cheese varieties like cheddar and mozzarella, and 10,000 tons per year for processed cheese.
This facility is expected to create numerous job opportunities, significantly boosting local employment and contributing to the region’s economic growth. The Maharashtra state government has provided immense support for this project, recognizing it as an Ultra Mega project and offering a customized incentive package. This collaboration has facilitated manufacturing across Britannia’s entire product range, including biscuits, cakes, snacks, and dairy products.
The factory utilizes cutting-edge technology, including pasteurizers, bactofuges, and auto-standardization units, ensuring a best-in-class cheese experience for consumers. The use of world-class equipment imported from leading global manufacturers guarantees that Britannia maintains the highest food safety and quality standards.
With this new facility, Britannia Bel Foods aims to bring the Britannia The Laughing Cow product range to Indian consumers, offering high-quality products that cater to local tastes. These products are not only produced domestically but also backed by a century-old global brand that operates in 120 countries, with 20 million Laughing Cow portions produced daily worldwide.
The Laughing Cow products have been tailored to meet the nutritional needs and preferences of the Indian market. The innovative recipe includes essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamins A, D, and B12. Additionally, packaging has been optimized for easy consumption, and all ingredients are sourced locally, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to the Indian consumer.
Varun Berry, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Britannia Industries, stated, “Britannia is deeply committed to the well-being and prosperity of the milk farming communities that are at the heart of our business. 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.”
Cécile Béliot, CEO of Bel Group, expressed pride in the new facility, highlighting its contribution to healthier and more sustainable food and its potential to meet local nutritional needs.
Abhishek Sinha, CEO of Britannia Bel Foods Private Limited, emphasized the facility’s role in delivering premium, locally made cheese that adheres to the highest standards of quality and innovation.
The joint venture between Britannia and Bel, announced in December 2022, has united two industry leaders with a shared vision of providing healthier, more sustainable food for all. With the establishment of this cheese plant and its robust integrated milk procurement program, Britannia Bel Foods is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for premium dairy products in India.
Key Highlights:
- Inauguration: Britannia Bel Foods opens a new cheese factory in Maharashtra, focused on local production of Britannia The Laughing Cow products.
- Community Support: The factory supports over 3,000 local milk farmers with a robust milk procurement program.
- Investment: Approximately INR 220 crores invested in state-of-the-art facilities, with a production capacity of 6,000 tons for natural cheese and 10,000 tons for processed cheese.
- Tailored Products: The Laughing Cow products are customized to meet local tastes and nutritional needs, sourced from 100% local ingredients.