Britannia Bel Foods, a collaboration between Britannia Industries and France’s Bel Group, has inaugurated its cheese manufacturing facility in Maharashtra, India. This strategic move caters to the growing demand for cheese products in the food and beverage industry.
Situated within Britannia Industries’ dairy food park in Ranjangaon, the new factory will specialize in the production of The Laughing Cow cheese items. While The Laughing Cow is owned by Bel Group, this venture will market a diverse range of products under the Britannia The Laughing Cow brand tailored for local consumers.
The facility, backed by an investment of approximately Rs2.2 billion ($26.1 million), features five production lines with an annual capacity of around 6,000 tons for natural cheese varieties like cheddar and mozzarella. Additionally, it can produce approximately 10,000 tons of processed cheese yearly, addressing the rising food and drink consumer trends.
Abhishek Sinha, CEO of Britannia Bel Foods, emphasized the significance of this advanced facility. “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,” he stated. This facility fortifies the partnership between Britannia and Bel, driving the growth of their cheese business in India, supported by a fully integrated dairy program. The aim is to deliver an unparalleled cheese experience to Indian consumers as their preferences evolve.
The establishment of this factory follows nearly two years after the formation of Britannia Bel Foods, reinforcing its commitment to the food and drink business domain.
Under this partnership, Bel acquired a share in Britannia’s fully-owned subsidiary, which has since been renamed Britannia Bel Foods Private Limited. The transaction involved Bel investing Rs2.62 billion ($32.1 million) for a 49% stake, with Britannia holding the remaining share.
This investment represents a significant step in responding to food and beverage industry trends, particularly within the cheese segment. With a focus on both quality and local taste preferences, Britannia Bel Foods positions itself to become a leader in the Indian cheese market.
