The Amul vs Nandini dairy feud has surfaced again. This time, its over Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL)’s deal with the Gujarat dairy giant to open kiosks at 10 metro stations. Two of these — Baiyappanahalli and Benniganahalli — are already operational.

Facing backlash over its decision to allow Amul to open the kiosks, the Karnataka government has now directed the State-run Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to open Nandini outlets at the metro stations as well. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that KMF had been instructed to submit its application to BMRCL for setting up kiosks at eight metro stations.

Incidentally, Shivakumar pointed out that when “BMRCL had called for a global tender, Amul was the lone applicant. “We have now asked KMF to apply and open Nandini outlets in the remaining eight stations,” he said.

Costly rentals

The two dairy cooperatives have been at war since April 2023, when Amul entered Karnataka, initially through e-commerce, with fresh milk and curd offerings, and later expanding aggressively. In turn, Nandini launched into northern markets, traditionally strongholds of Amul and Mother Dairy, launching milk, curd, and buttermilk in Delhi-NCR in November 2024.

Nandini had operated a metro outlet as early as 2013–14 at MG Road station, but shut it down by 2015 due to high rentals and poor viability, explained sources close to KMF.

“We were in talks with BMRCL to reduce the rental part and allot kiosks again. While that process was underway, the tender was floated, and Amul was selected. Now that rentals have been reduced, we’re signing 10 outlets,” the KMF official added.

Political hues

The issue took on a political turn when BJP MP PC Mohan, representing Bengaluru Central, criticised the Congress government on X, alleging hypocrisy. “Ahead of the 2023 elections, Congress accused the BJP of favouring outsiders. But now, it’s enabling Amul, a Gujarat brand, to displace Nandini. If the intention was to promote Nandini, KMF should have been given a fair chance from the start,” Mohan said.

He also questioned the credibility of the tender process, pointing out that only Amul applied, despite it being labelled a ‘global tender.’ The decision to bring Nandini back into metro stations is being seen as a bid to balance both political sentiment and market competition. businessline reached out to Amul for comments, but did not elicit a response at the time of going to print.

Published on June 18, 2025