by Sabyasachi Samajdar, FoodBizDaily.com Bureau Chief – New Delhi
November 12, 2009 – French dairy giant Bel is likely to enter a tie-up with Indian dairy company Parag Milk Foods Private Limited to produce and market its brands of cheese in India.
Parag Milk Foods Private Limited is a US$ 108 million company that makes and sells a range of cow milk-based products under the brand name of Govardhan.
The company recently invested US$ 16 million for setting up processing facility at Palamner near Bangalore, Southern Indian state of Karnataka and also setting up seven chilling plants in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
“The plant will go on production on January 15. Over the next 18 months, we plan to set up 55-60 chilling units in three States,” Mr Devendra Shah, Chairman, Parag Milk Foods Private Limited.
Mr. Shah said that US$ 50 million expenditure was slated during 2010 to upgrade existing facilities and in backward integration.
The upcoming plants shall produce mozarella, raw cheddar and seven offerings of premium processed cheese under a new brand name ‘Go’.
Bel, whose flagship brand of cheese ‘Laughing Cow’ is already present in the country, a tie-up with an established player in this space will provide a ready milk procurement and marketing network, as well as facilitating local production of its own products, currently, imported from its Morocco plant, and give it a better foothold in the US$ 90 million organized cheese market in India.
Mr. Shah said, “We want to be the largest player in India in the cheese business. The company expected to touch US$ 160 million turnover in FY 10-11”.
“We have so far invested US$ 22 million in our new fully automated cheese facility which is Asia’s largest, and has a capacity to produce 40 tons of raw cheddar daily,” Mr Shah said.
According to Sources, talks are going on towards the tie-up with Bel and Parag.
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Fromageries Bel SA
Address: 16, boulevard Malesherbes Paris, 75008 France
Telephone: +33-1-40077250
Fax: +33-1-40077400
About Fromageries Bel SA
Fromageries Bel SA is a France-based company engaged in the production of processed cheese packaged in pre-cut portions and cheese spread. The Company's production sites are based in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the United States, North Africa and the Middle East. Fromageries Bel SA has developed a portfolio of over 20 international and national brands, which are distributed worldwide. Laughing Cow is a processed cheese available flavored portions; Mini Babybel is produced in a range of sizes and from different kind of cheese; Kiri, sold in individual portions, is a cheese spread produced from cream, and Leerdammer, which is a half-cooked Swiss-style cheese. On January 3, 2008, the Company also acquired the Boursin brand. Fromageries Bel SA also provides Bel Foodservice, which offers a range of portions for social gatherings, a line of ingredient cheeses for ready-cooked dishes, and a line aimed at travel restaurants. Fromageries Bel SA is 64.75%-owned by its parent company, Unibel.
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Parag Milk & Milk Products Pvt. Ltd.
Address: Awasari Phata, Manchar, Dist. Pune - 410 503.
Telephone: 91-2133 224763
Fax: n/a
About Parag Milk & Milk Products Pvt. Ltd.
Gowardhan, founded by Parag Milk and Milk Products Pvt. Ltd in 1992, is one of India's largest private dairies,with an output capacity of 1,000,000 liters per day. Located in a lush green village called Manchar in Maharashtra (60 km from Pune), we pride ourselves on owning the largest cow farm in India as well as Asia's largest cheese plant. We are an ISO 9000 and AGMARK certified company, committed to international standards of product quality. Our product portfolio includes Skim Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Ghee, Processed Cheese, Butter,Dahi, proprietary foods like Dairy Whitener and Gulab Jamun Mix powder under the brand names of "Gowardhan" and 'Go' ,all made from 100% fresh cow milk.