Capacity for frozen peas doubles; company enters idli-dosa batter segment
Mother Dairy on Thursday expanded its horticulture operations with a Rs 65 crore investment at its Mangolpuri facility in Delhi, adding new processing lines for frozen peas and idli-dosa batter under its Safal brand.
The expansion was inaugurated by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who said institutions under the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) are strengthening India’s agri-value chains while supporting farmer incomes. The company has installed a new Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) line that will double frozen peas processing capacity at the facility to 9,000 metric tonnes per annum from 4,500 MT earlier.
It has also commissioned a new idli-dosa batter line with a capacity of about 1,500 MT per annum, marking its entry into the ready-to-cook segment.
Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, said the expansion will improve market access for farmers while ensuring quality products for consumers. He added that Safal needs to expand beyond the NCR to widen its reach.
Scaling Horticulture Business
NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah said Mother Dairy is investing over Rs 750 crore to expand its horticulture footprint, including new plants in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, along with capacity additions in Delhi. He added that the increase in frozen peas capacity is expected to double the farmer base sourcing from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Safal, which pioneered the frozen peas segment in India, currently operates across 29 states. With the latest addition, its total frozen processing capacity has reached 17,000 MT annually across facilities in Delhi and Ranchi.
Jayatheertha Chary, Deputy Managing Director, Mother Dairy, said rising demand for convenience foods is driving growth in frozen and ready-to-cook categories. The new capacity will also support expansion into products such as frozen broccoli.
