Astra Agro Foods unveils Rs 50 lakh expansion plan

Mohali-based Astra Agro Foods (Private) Ltd, an up-market food-processing unit in the region, has decided to diversify into health food and infant nutritional food. The company has earmarked Rs 50 lakh for the expansion.

The company was formed in 1998, when its Managing Director Niti Bakshi shifted her small set-up run from her house in Chandigarh to Mohali. "I started making pickles at home as a hobby in 1990 and sold at local stores. When I got an encouraging response from market I started commercial production with family support in 1998," she said.

Now Astra Agro sells in the domestic market and exports to the US, Australia and the United Kingdom. She started exporting in 2001 and now exports 50 tonnes of processed food every year.

The company prepares about 29 varieties of pickles and sauces. "We prepare pickle in vinegar, pickle in oil and pickle in sugar. Pickle in sugar is a big hit in export market where as the other two varieties are more popular in domestic market.

The company has an FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the US) approved plant at Mohali. The company also exports spices and spice combinations.

Depending upon the season of inputs like mangoes, chillies and lemons, Astra Agro Foods prepares 1.5 tonne to 2.5 tonne of processed food every day.

"We are a major player in north India. As tastes of people in other parts are different so our presence is only in the metropolitan cities of west and south India. The company supplies in bulk to Druk (Bhutan based), NDDB Safal Brand and CSD Canteens. The company has a plan to roll out ready-to-eat meal, dish and gravy by the next year.