India: Dr. Oetker to open $37 million plant

German food manufacturer Dr. Oetker is setting up a new manufacturing plant in Rajasthan, India with an investment of 250 crore INR ($37 million).

Dr. Oetker, which sells a range of products including mayonnaises, sauces, spreads, salad dressings, cakes and dessert toppings, has two existing production units with a manufacturing capacity of 12,000 tonnes.

Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Dr. Oetker India managing director Oliver Mirza said: “We have two manufacturing units in Kashipur (Uttrakhand), of which one is owned by us and the other is a rented one. We are now setting up a new manufacturing unit in Kahrani in Rajasthan with a 25,000 tonne annual capacity”.

The company also plans to do export business from the Rajasthan unit. "This new manufacturing unit will mainly cater to the domestic market as the consumption in India is big enough”, Mr Mirza added. “However, with the additional capacity we are also looking at exports. We expect to begin exports from 2017, to countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal and South Asia, where there is a demand for vegetarian mayonnaise".

The facility is expected to be completed in April 2016.

Source: Business Standard