BENGALURU, November 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
The Center has been Equipped With World-class Technology for Accelerating Product Innovations in Newer Categories
Britannia Industries Ltd. (BIL), India's leading food company, today announced the launch of a state-of-the-art Research & Development Center in Bidadi, Bengaluru. The new center and the company's first-owned manufacturing facility in the state have been set up at an investment of INR 200 Crores and will focus on fostering innovations and launch of disruptive products for Indian and global consumers. The 55,000 square foot center was inaugurated by Industries Minister, Karnataka, Shri. R.V. Deshpande.
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The state-of-the-art center houses analytical, sensory, microbiology labs in addition to pilot plants for its core product portfolio which includes biscuits, cakes, rusk, breads and dairy. The facility has a team of seasoned food technologists, scientists, chefs and nutritionists. As a testament to their commitment to encourage diversity in the workplace, nearly half the workforce comprises women.
"Our market leadership in bakery today is firm and growing. As a market leader, innovation is the bedrock of our identity. We aim to be a 'Total Foods' company in 5 years from now, serving over a billion Indians 4 times a day," said Varun Berry, Managing Director, Britannia Industries Limited. "This center reinforces our commitment to deliver innovative and superior products to our consumers. The new R&D Center will act as a springboard to accelerate product innovations in newer categories and will help us in our growth into adjacent bakery segments within macro-snacking," he added.
The manufacturing facility in Bidadi, built adjacent to the R&D Center, is also equipped with high-speed processing machinery which will redefine the frontiers of food technology in India. The facility will seamlessly channel the innovations from the R&D Center to markets across the country. Currently, the facility employs more than an 800 strong workforce and will expand up to 1350 people when it reaches 100 per cent capacity.
"The rigor and commitment behind product innovations which deliver new-to-market experiences is testimony to our promise of taste, trust and consistent delivered quality," said Sudhir Nema, VP - R&D & Quality, Britannia Industries Limited. "The new facility is built on our glorious R&D tradition of innovating in food technology over the last 4 decades. It will steer us to the next phase of growth by delivering disruptive innovations, renovating the core product portfolio and providing value engineering to remain cost competitive in the market place," he added.
Britannia started its Research and Development Center in the year 1970 in Mumbai. The new center in Karnataka is to be a consolidated facility that houses state-of-art-capability in diverse areas including Analytical Excellence Laboratory (Microbiology & Organoleptics), Product Development, Packaging Development, Scientific Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition, R&D Excellence & Capability Building (Culinary Laboratory) & Dairy Development.
About Britannia:
Britannia Industries is one of India's leading food companies with a 100-year legacy and annual revenues in excess of Rs. 8500 Cr. Britannia is among the most trusted food brands, and manufactures India's favourite food brands like Good Day, Tiger, NutriChoice, Milk Bikis and Marie Gold which are household names in India. Britannia is a brand which many generations of Indians have grown up with. Britannia's product portfolio includes biscuits, bread, cakes, rusk, and dairy products including cheese, beverages, milk and yoghurt. Britannia products are available across the country in over 4 million retail outlets and reach over 50% of Indian homes.
The company's dairy business contributes close to 10 per cent of revenue and Britannia dairy products directly reach close to 700, 000 outlets and over 3 million outlets through indirect distribution.
Britannia Bread is the largest brand in the organized bread market with an annual turnover of 1.1 lakh tonnes in volume and Rs.385 crores in value. The business operates with 13 factories and 5 franchisees selling close to 1 mn loaves daily across more than 73 cities and towns of India.
Britannia takes pride in having stayed true to its credo, 'Eat Healthy, Think Better'. Having removed over 8500 tonnes of Trans Fats from products, Britannia became India's first Zero Trans Fat Company. Over 50% of the Company's portfolio is enriched with essential micro-nutrients which nourish the body.
The company set up the Britannia Nutrition Foundation in 2009, and began working with under-privileged, under-nourished children by supplementing their daily meals with an iron and multiple micro-nutrient fortified product. The Foundation works through Public Private Partnerships with both governments and NGOs. Brand Britannia is listed amongst the most trusted, valuable and popular brands in various surveys conducted by prestigious organizations like Millward Brown, IMRB, WPP Group and Havas Media Group to name a few.
Britannia believes that 'Taste & Trust' are its sobriquet and will constantly endeavour to make a billion Indians reach out for a delightful and healthy Britannia product several times a day.
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