Aims to be a global food co, to launch one category every year over the next few years, opens state-of-the-art R&D centre and plant at Bengaluru
Britannia Industries has taken its first step towards becoming a 'total food' company over the next five years. The company's newly-launched state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) centre and manufacturing plant at Bidadi in Bengaluru will pave the way for its foray into a complete range of food products over the next few years.
Speaking to DNA Money, Varun Berry, managing director, Britannia Industries Ltd, said preparations are on for foray into the food products space and their brand new R&D centre is the start. "We have been working on creating products for a few food categories and should be in a position to launch one category in another six months or so. The idea is to launch one category every year over the next few years," said Berry without sharing details of the product category it will soon be launching.
According to Berry, the way forward for Britannia is to truly be a food company. "It's our vision to make Britannia not just an Indian food company but a global food company. We want our footprint across the globe and have made some move in that direction and a lot more would be coming in future," he said.
The food foray is also aimed at doubling the Britannia's current turnover of Rs 8,500 crore five years from now. The company has invested Rs 200 crore in the Bidadi R&D and manufacturing facility spread across 55,000 square feet, which is its first unit in Karnataka. The company's outsourcing partners, according to Berry, have invested another Rs 350 crore towards manufacturing various other lines of Britannia products.
Provisions for future expansion have been made by the management with both the R&D centre and the manufacturing facility. The R&D facility currently employs 55 people including food technologists, scientists, chefs and nutritionists. It also houses analytical, sensory, microbiology labs in addition to pilot plants for its core product portfolio which includes biscuits, cakes, rusk, breads and dairy.
The company plans to double the R&D employee base to over 100 in the next few years while additional production lines will also get added as and when required by the company. The manufacturing facility currently has a workforce of over 800 people and will expand up to 1,350 when it reaches 100% capacity.
(The reporter visited Britannia's R&D centre at Bidadi in Bengaluru at the invitation of the company)
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