After announcing ₹1,000 crore investments to build food parks, Future Group is getting ready to forge alliances with international FMCG and food companies to set up a manufacturing base in India.

It is negotiating with companies based in Australia, the US and Europe to manufacture, distribute and retail their products in India.

“There are plans to forge MoUs (memoranda of understanding) with international companies which want to enter India and start manufacturing by using the infrastructure that we have set up at the food parks. The Made in India tag, which is being envisaged by the Prime Minister, will come into play as these companies will end up manufacturing, distributing and retailing their products,” Sumit Saran, Head International Foods, Future Consumer Enterprises, told BusinessLine .

The Kishore Biyani-led group also offers these global companies an opportunity to extend their operations into South-East and West Asian countries through its soon-to-be launched mega food park in Karnataka’s Tumkur district.

“We are in talks with companies in Australia, Canada and the US to forge MoUs and partnerships in order to manufacture at a better cost and also to diversify their market into South-East and West Asia,” said Saran. He did not name any company citing the non-disclosure agreement.

Even sourcing capabilities from India are being encouraged for such companies. “Apart from the technical know-how on manufacturing, there will also be sourcing facilities for raw materials such as fruit, vegetables and dairy products which are in ample supply in States like Karnataka,” said Saran.

Future Consumer Enterprises has forged a licensing arrangement to bring California-based Sunkist Growers’ Sunkist brand into India. According to the agreement, Future Consumer will manufacture, market and sell fruit juices, sparkling beverages and a range of food products under the brand. “Since we are setting up manufacturing infrastructure at the food park, the Sunkist brand will also get manufactured at the food park,” added Saran.

The Future Group has floated Integrated Food Park Ltd for its foray into food processing in Karnataka, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

It is a joint venture in which Capital Foods and Sattva Developers has a 28 per cent stake. The first 110-acre food park is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month at Tumkur.

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