Latest news with #ManishBandlish
News18
29-05-2025
- Business
- News18
World Milk Day 2025: Health, Innovation, and Sustainability Drive India's Milk Movement
Last Updated: As the dairy sector redefines itself through science, sustainability, and social impact, India's milk movement is no longer just white it's green, clean, and future-ready. As India celebrates World Milk Day, the country's dairy sector is undergoing a paradigm shift. Once a dependable staple, dairy is now the focal point of a transformative movement powered by nutrition-conscious consumers, innovation-led companies, and a deeper commitment to sustainability. From pioneering fortified milk to clean-label, protein-rich offerings and tech-enabled traceability, the industry is witnessing a renaissance, one that redefines what dairy means in the 21st century. A New Generation of Dairy Consumers 'The Indian dairy sector is playing a leading role in addressing the growing demand for nutrition-focused, innovation-driven, and consumer-centric solutions," says Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy. With rising disposable incomes and greater health consciousness, consumers are now seeking more than just basic nourishment. 'Milk and milk products provide an ideal foundation for meeting daily nutritional needs," he notes, highlighting Mother Dairy's early initiatives such as fortifying liquid milk with Vitamins A and D, and launching probiotic curd and beverages as early as 2007. Building on this legacy, the brand recently introduced Promilk, a high-protein milk offering aimed at making protein intake more accessible. 'We are taking a significant step toward democratising protein consumption," says Bandlish, reinforcing how innovation continues to lie at the heart of the brand's evolution. This consumer awakening is evident across the board. 'People are no longer picking up milk or curd out of habit rather, they're choosing products that align with their health goals and values," shares Shashi Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder, Akshayakalpa Organic. At Akshayakalpa, health and sustainability are deeply intertwined. The company's clean-label portfolio features protein-rich paneer, probiotic curd, and lactose-free milk, created without shortcuts and grounded in genuine health needs. Their approach goes beyond product innovation to embrace ethical farming. 'We use on-farm technologies to track cow health, ensure hygienic milking, and maintain full traceability," says Kumar. The brand's closed-loop organic farming system grows nutritious fodder from healthy soil to feed their cows — a practice that directly improves milk quality. Dairy Goes Tech-Savvy and Sustainable K Rathnam, CEO, Milky Mist, believes we're witnessing a turning point in dairy. 'India's dairy landscape is at a transformative juncture, shaped by rising awareness around nutrition, wellness, and responsible consumption." To meet this change head-on, Milky Mist has developed a robust, forward-looking strategy grounded in health, innovation, and sustainability. The company's portfolio now includes high-protein Paneer and Greek Yogurt, fortified milk, and probiotic-rich solutions, targeting functional nutrition. Rathnam sees a growing demand for value-added dairy: 'We're seeing strong demand for protein-enriched milk, lactose-free variants, and fermented dairy and Milky Mist is responding with agility." The brand also leads with technology. 'Our integrated cold chain infrastructure ensures freshness while reducing spoilage," he explains. From automated processing to sustainable practices that minimise waste and energy usage, Milky Mist's innovation is multidimensional, enabling quality and environmental stewardship to go hand-in-hand. Despite differing operational models, all three leaders agree on one thing: the future of dairy lies in transparency, traceability, and trust. 'Dairy isn't just a product," says Kumar. 'It's a promise of health, transparency, and care from our farms to over 3,00,000 families we serve daily." Bandlish echoes this, crediting schemes like White Revolution 2.0 for accelerating inclusive growth. 'The Indian dairy industry continues to advance through innovation — launching contemporary products, leveraging the latest technologies, and embracing sustainability across the value chain." As Rathnam aptly summarizes, 'Our focus remains on delivering nutritious, traceable, and responsibly produced dairy that supports the evolving lifestyles of millions across India." With health and wellness now core to consumer decision-making, and sustainability no longer a choice but a necessity, India's dairy industry is at a defining crossroads. It is no longer just about producing more milk, it's about producing better milk: healthier, cleaner, and kinder to both people and planet. First Published: May 29, 2025, 14:13 IST
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Border businesses buzz again as India, Pak bring themselves back from brink of all-out war
After a tense week in the shadow of war, businesses along the India-Pakistan border are returning to normalcy with the two sides having decided to halt military operations, The Times of India reported on May 15. Many businesses are reopening and employees are gradually returning to their workplaces in these regions. However, companies that have extensive manufacturing and operational processes are proceeding with caution, ensuring they can adapt quickly and implement safety protocols if necessary. They are closely monitoring instructions from local authorities as well as the prevailing conditions in the area, ToI's report (by Asmita Dey) said. Despite the ceasefire, reports indicate that there were instances of drone intrusions in several border regions on Monday night, which led to power outages in locations such as Amritsar. Mother Dairy has announced that its operations are fully functional at this time, though it remains vigilant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo 'We are engaged in procurement, processing, and sales across selected markets in the bordering states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. In light of the unfortunate events last month and the subsequent developments, we promptly communicated advisories to our teams, emphasizing their safety and adherence to local authority guidelines. As the situation continues to unfold, we are keeping a close eye on developments and remain optimistic for improvements,' said Manish Bandlish, the managing director of Mother Dairy, in conversation with TOI. Manufacturing facilities generally operate on a three-shift schedule. Following the escalation of tensions between the two nations last week, several FMCG companies temporarily halted their night shifts. Dabur , which had paused night operations at its factory in Jammu, confirmed that all shifts are now back in operation and that its outstation employees have returned to work. Live Events 'We discontinued night shifts and adjusted office hours so that employees could leave early and reach home before it got dark. It was only a brief period, and everything has returned to normal now,' Deepshikha Thakur, Chief People Officer at Bikaji Foods International , told the newspaper. LT Foods , known for its Daawat brand, operates two manufacturing facilities in Punjab—one in Bhikhiwind and the other in Varpal—which are both currently running at full capacity, according to CEO and MD Ashwani Arora. 'While there is still a general sense of apprehension among the people, operations are largely normal. From a business perspective, we are somewhat insulated, as 65% of our revenue is generated from exports,' Arora noted.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Normalcy returns but companies on guard
MUMBAI: Following an understanding reached between India and Pakistan over the weekend on the stoppage of military action, a semblance of normalcy seems to be setting in the border towns. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Businesses are largely resuming full operations, and employees are returning to offices in these areas. Companies with a wider coverage of manufacturing and other processes, however, are treading with caution, ready to maintain operational flexibility and precautionary measures if the need arises. They are tracking directives from the local authorities and the situation on the ground. As of Monday night, there were drone intrusions in some border areas, resulting in blackouts in places like Amritsar despite the ceasefire, TOI reported. Mother Dairy stated that it is fully operational as of now but continues to be watchful. 'We have operations in procurement, processing, and sales in select markets of the bordering states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. Following the unfortunate incident last month and the situation thereafter, we promptly issued advisories to our teams, prioritising their safety and compliance with directives from local authorities. While the situation continues to evolve, we are monitoring the developments closely and remain hopeful (for things to get better),' Manish Bandlish, managing director at Mother Dairy, told TOI. In the case of manufacturing units, businesses typically operate in three shifts. Last week, after tensions escalated between the two countries, some FMCG companies discontinued night shifts at their factories. Dabur, which suspended the night shift for its Jammu factory, said that all the shifts are operational now and its outstation employees have also returned. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now '…we discontinued night operations and updated the office time so that people could leave early and get home before dark. It was a matter of a few days, and everything is back to normal now,' said Deepshikha Thakur, Chief People Officer at Bikaji Foods International. LT Foods, maker of brands like Daawat, has two manufacturing units in Punjab's Bhikhiwind and Varpal, both of which are fully functional, said CEO and MD Ashwani Arora. 'People in general are still a bit scared, but operations are quite normal now. In terms of business, we are a bit shielded given that 65% of our business comes from exports,' Arora said.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mother Dairy hikes milk prices by up to ₹2 per litre, effective April 30
Mother Dairy on Tuesday raised milk prices by up to ₹2 per litre, effective Wednesday, April 30, according to news agency PTI. Mother Dairy, a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board, sources milk from 10 lakh farmers across 12 states and sells through 4 lakh retail outlets across India. The raise came just a month after the company launched 'Promilk', a high-protein milk product aimed at tackling India's widespread protein deficiency, particularly in the Delhi-NCR region. Priced at ₹70 per litre, the new cow milk variant delivers 40 grams of protein per litre, contains 4 per cent fat and 11.5 per cent SNF (solids-not-fat), and is fortified with vitamins A and D. It will be sold in 500 ml and 1-litre packs via both online and offline retail stores from Thursday. At the launch, Mother Dairy Managing Director Manish Bandlish said the new product is designed to meet nutritional needs in a country where "70-80 per cent of Indians struggle to meet daily protein requirements, with 93 per cent unaware of their nutritional needs." 'Protein is a vital part of a balanced diet,' Bandlish said, highlighting that Promilk delivers 30 per cent more protein than regular milk while keeping the taste familiar. The company aims to begin with 50,000 litres per day and is considering expanding beyond Delhi-NCR based on initial consumer response. Within three months, it also plans to roll out more 'Pro' range offerings like high-protein curd and paneer. (With PTI inputs)
