Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi travelled to the state of Karnataka late last month to open Future Group’s new India Food Park.
The 110 acre site will provide the retail group with a fully intergraded food supply chain, boasting cold chain infrastructure, pulping and IQF lines, spiral freezers, along with a research and development facility. Packaging and grading of fresh produce will also be completed onsite, while ample space has been allocated to warehousing and distribution.
Future Group CEO Kishore Biyani said the food park would add enormous value to both Indian growers and the country’s retail sector.
“The India Food Park is an ambitious project which has the potential to aid thousands of farmers, directly employ 10,000 people and quadruple the value of the food products that enter through its gates,” Biyani explained. “
“This integrated food park will help us reduce supply chain costs and wastage across the food value chain in India and improve quality and hygiene to create food products in India that compares favorably with the best in the world.”
In addition to fresh produce, the site will also house Future Group’s food processing business, with dedicated production plants being set up to manufacture frozen food products, chutneys and dry fruits and nuts.
Products developed at the food park will be retailed through Future Group’s retail banners, which include Big Bazaar, Foodhall, Big Apple and Aadhaar, along with other privately owned retail chains.
Procurement centres are being set up across the country to encourage and assist growers in selling directly to the business divisions that operate within the park.
The park has been developed through partnerships with India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka. Chief Minister of Karnataka State, Shri Siddaramaiah, joined Prime Minister Modi at the official opening.
