Mother Dairy has no immediate plans to increase the prices of its dairy products despite global uncertainties and inflationary pressures, as the company has already accounted for recent input cost increases in its pricing, according to Maneesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Mother Dairy.
No Intention to Raise Prices for Now
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the launch of Mother Dairy's naturally degradable milk pouch in the national capital, Shah stated, "The increase in the inputs which has happened, we have already factored in and as of now we have no intention to increase the price, but then if the situation continues and if there is further escalation in the inputs for them, we will see at that point of time. But as of now there is no intention."
Expanding Export Footprint
Shah also revealed that Mother Dairy is actively looking to expand its export footprint and boost overseas revenues in the coming years. "We are exporting as of now and we are exploring various other countries where we can export. It's a continuous process and we want more revenues to come from the exports so that we can pass on more money or higher margin to the producers," he said.
Continuous Product Portfolio Expansion
On product expansion, Shah noted that introducing new products and adjusting the portfolio is a continuous exercise for the company. "Every year we add a lot of new products and continue to change the portfolio and that will continue to happen," he added.
Beyond NCR: Becoming a National Brand
Shah emphasized that Mother Dairy is focused on expanding its presence beyond the National Capital Region (NCR) and strengthening its position as a national brand. "There is a perception that Mother Dairy is an NCR brand. We want to change that and we have started going into other markets. In the last few years our growth is more in the non-NCR market and we hope to continue so that we are also recognized as a national brand," he said.
Innovative Degradable Packaging Launch
Shah was speaking at the launch of an innovative degradable packaging film for Mother Dairy's cow milk variants in the NCR market, an initiative aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastic packaging. According to Shah, the new packaging film is designed to degrade naturally within about two years, leaving behind no microplastics or toxic residue.
"The basic aim of launching this is our contribution towards sustainable work. Normally plastics are not degradable and they remain in the environment for a very long time. Although they are recyclable, the recycled plastic also stays in the environment," he said. He added, "This initiative which we have started with the cow milk variant in the NCR market is towards making this plastic degradable in nature. In two years' time, for example, this film will completely get degraded into the soil. No microplastic left, no toxic material left."
Willingness to Share Technology
Shah mentioned that Mother Dairy would be willing to share the technology with other dairy processors if required, as wider adoption would help reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. "There is nothing rocket science into it. In case required, we are also ready to share. It's basically good for the environment. We want that more and more processors make use of this and contribute towards the future," he said.
Plans to Expand Degradable Packaging
The degradable packaging has initially been introduced for cow milk variants, and Shah said the company plans to expand it to other milk categories as supply-related issues are resolved. "As we gain the experience and as we have the supplies issues settled, we will definitely expand to the other variants," he added.
Company Performance Highlights
On the company's performance, Mother Dairy Managing Director Jayatheertha Chary told ANI that the company grew by around 17 per cent in the last financial year and has doubled its revenue over the past five years. "Last year we grew by 17 per cent. In the last five years we doubled our revenue," he concluded.
