Emami Group is investing around ₹400 crore to establish a food park in West Bengal as part of its accelerated entry into the packaged foods business. According to The Economic Times, the company has sought 22 acres of land from the state government for the project, which will consolidate all manufacturing operations in one area. The food park will complement the company's existing ₹750 crore investment in the snacking business, with the combined investment targeting ₹1,000 crore revenue within five to seven years. As per The Economic Times, Aditya Vardhan Agarwal, Director, Emami Group, stated that "We will invest ₹750 crore into the snacking business, including the factory. The business will also employ 4,000 people, both directly and indirectly. After snacks, we will enter into more food categories such as sweets and bakery products."
The company plans to invest ₹750 crore over the next three to five years, with around ₹400 crore earmarked for setting up a greenfield manufacturing facility in West Bengal to produce snacks and staples. Currently, Emami is following a hybrid model with third-party manufacturing and selective machinery investments. However, if the brand scales as planned, the company expects to invest around ₹400 crore in its own plant and machinery over the next two years. The bulk of the investment will be deployed during the 24-month construction period for the new facility. According to The Economic Times, the group is also strengthening Emami Agrotech's leadership by hiring senior industry professionals, including Sanjay Singal as chief business officer, who was previously CEO of Wagh Bakri Tea Group and COO of foods business at ITC Ltd. The company is also strengthening Emami Agrotech's leadership by hiring senior industry professionals, replicating the management model adopted at its flagship listed FMCG company, Emami Ltd.
According to ETRetail, WeMe launches with three product categories: choco hazelnut spread, jhuri aloo bhaja (a popular favourite in eastern India) and potato chips. The company is planning an aggressive innovation pipeline, with 27 SKUs already under the brand and another 22-25 SKUs expected to launch over the next three to four months. One of the key innovations is a portable chiplet-format Choco Hazelnut Spread, which the company claims is India's first in the category. Priced at ₹10 per sachet, the product is targeted at children and families and designed for everyday consumption with bread, rotis, pancakes, fruits and other foods. The combined addressable market of the three categories is about ₹50,000-60,000 crore, driven largely by the potato chips segment. The products will initially be sold within Kolkata before entering other markets.
Manish Goenka, Director, Emami Group, explained the company's digital-first approach, stating that "As consumers increasingly seek products that combine taste, convenience and innovation, WeMe reflects our confidence in the long-term growth of India's snacking market." The company has conceived WeMe as a digital-first brand and will initially be available through quick commerce platforms across Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. According to ETRetail, Vidula Agarwal, director, Emami Group, noted that "The new generation doesn't simply buy products they discover them through conversations, creators and communities." The brand is currently available on Blinkit across Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while offline distribution has initially been limited to Kolkata and parts of West Bengal. The company plans to expand into more markets based on consumer response. The distribution strategy will enable the company to make WeMe instantly accessible across key cities while allowing continuous learning from consumers, innovation faster and response to emerging trends.
According to The Economic Times, Emami Agrotech, the group's ₹20,000-crore edible oil business, is already EBITDA positive. The company plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO), with its expansion into packaged foods aimed at improving its valuation. Aditya Vardhan Agarwal, Director, Emami Group, explained the strategic rationale, stating that "We want to ensure the IPO is not only successful but also remains value-accretive for shareholders in the long run. Valuations for pure-play edible oil businesses are not attractive. Once the food business scales up and enhances the company's valuation, we will proceed with the listing." The diversification would help improve investors' perception of the company, as pure-play edible oil companies are generally not valued as food companies and their valuations remain under pressure. Vidula Agarwal, director, Emami Group, emphasized that "With edible oils, staples and spices, we have built a strong presence in consumers' kitchens. Snacking allows us to move to the dining table. It is a natural extension of our foods business and another step towards building Emami Agrotech into a comprehensive food company."
