KOLKATA: Bhanu Farms, promoted by Keshav Bangur's flagship BFL Corp, has set up an IQF (individual quick freezing) fruits and vegetable processing plant with full cold chain in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Total outlay on the plant is Rs 60 crore and has been financed by internal accruals with just 20 % coming from domestic institutions.

The company launched its products under the brand 'Nature's Gold' on Monday from eastern India - Kolkata, Siliguri, Bhubaneswar and Patna.

"We are using multiple distribution channels to penetrate the fast growing retail infrastructure of the eastern region. We are targeting both institutional and retail with 60 % of our supplies going to institutions and the balance to retail," said Mr Anubhav Misra, head of sales & marketing, Bhanu Farms.

Over the next 18 months, the company's products will be available in 65 cities.

The company also plans to export majority of its produce with about 30 % to be supplied in domestic markets. It is in the process of acquiring stringent quality certifications like 'Global Gap' which is a prerequisite for entry into the markets of Japan, Europe and the USA.

In the domestic markets, the company has already tied up with retail majors like Metro, Reliance etc. for supply of frozen fruits and vegetables.

Bhanu Farms' integrated facility of 35,000 tonnes per year of frozen fruits and vegetables range includes frozen peas, frozen American sweet corn, mix vegetables (with and without rice), baby corn and white corn, cut green beans, cut okra and baby okra, carrot dices, frozen broccoli florets & frozen cauliflower florets besides mango, litchi, strawberry, orange, tomato pulps among others.

With commencement of commercial production recently, Bhanu Farms' is now planning to enter into 'ready-to-eat' products in the next couple of months.

 

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com