The controversy intensified after revelations of animal fat and other adulteration in laddus at the Tirupati temple. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has changed the company supplying ghee and supply of ghee has now been given to ‘Nandini’. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has also placed an order with the company. Nandini had also supplied ghee to the Tirupati temple a few years ago, but AR Dairy got the job in a tender. However, Nandini was again given the contract to supply ghee. Let’s take a look at the Nandini companies and their owners that have been in the news lately.
Similar to the popularity of Amul and Mother Dairy milk products in North India, ‘Nandini’ is a household name in South India as well. ‘Nandini’ is the largest milk brand in Karnataka and is also famous in neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa. Karnataka Milk Producers Cooperative Federation Ltd (KMF) owns the brand. This means that KMF itself operates the Nandini brand.
How did KMF start?
In 1955, the first dairy cooperative was opened in Kodagu district of Karnataka. At that time, packaged milk was not yet popular. In the past, farmers delivered milk to every household themselves. By the 1970s, the focus was on increasing milk production. In January 1970, the Milk Revolution began, known as the “White Revolution.” The World Bank also has many programs related to dairy projects. To implement the World Bank’s dairy projects, the Karnataka government established the Karnataka Dairy Development Corporation (KDCC) in 1974, which was renamed the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) 10 years later in 1984.
How did the name Nandini come about?
Around 1984, the company launched a brand called “Nandini” that supplied packaged milk and other products. Owing to its quality and breadth, over time ‘Nandini’ became the most popular brand in Karnataka. One of the main reasons why it became a big brand is that no other company in South India can match it. Nandini also left her mark in neighboring countries and is a big name even today. This brand supplies all types of milk and milk products. This is very popular in South India. Currently, Karnataka Administrative Service Officer MK Jagadish is the Managing Director and CEO of KMF.
How does KMF, the owner of the Nandini brand, work?
KMF has emerged as the leading organization for 15 dairy unions in the state. These include Bangalore Milk Cooperative Federation, Kolar Milk Cooperative Federation, Mysuru Milk Cooperative Federation, etc. These dairy unions purchase milk from each village through the District Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS) and transport it to KMF. According to information provided on the Karnataka Milk Federation website, the dairy cooperative purchases more than 4.6 million kilograms of milk every day from 2.6 million farmers in 24,000 villages.
Smallholder farmers and milk producers
The most unique thing about the Karnataka Milk Federation is that it pays daily payments to most of the milk suppliers, most of whom are small farmers and milk producers. According to the federation, it pays more than Rs 280 million per day to milk producers. The Karnataka Milk Federation has a total of 15 units responsible for processing and packaging of milk. Thereafter, it carries out marketing and sales efforts.
How big is Nandini’s business?
Nandini brand offers more than 148 products such as milk, curd, butter, paneer, paneer, flavored milk, chocolate, rusks, biscuits, bread, namkeen, ice cream. KMF’s total turnover for the financial year 2022-23 is Rs 19,784 crore.
Why did Amul and Nandini get into a fight?
Amul is owned by the Gujarat Milk Marketing Cooperative Federation. The total turnover for the financial year 2022-23 is Rs 61,000 crore. While Nandini’s turnover is Rs 19,784 crore. The dispute between Amul and Nandini arose after Amul decided to enter Karnataka last year. Amul created a stir when it announced its foray into the retail market here. The Karnataka Milk Federation claimed that there had always been an agreement between the two cooperatives not to enter the other’s market until their respective needs could be met.
However, Amul claimed that the demand for milk was not being met in many cities in Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, so it decided to sell milk through e-commerce platforms.
