Vegetables processing firm Classic Frozen Foods Private Ltd is eyeing Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia as upcoming market over next five years for its products. The firm has dispatched it first consignment of sweetcorn to Australia this week and plans to increase its exports business in the eastern Asia region. Classic Frozen Foods is in the process of acquiring an operational unit Gomukh Frozen Foods in Pirangut, near Pune. The company also plans to set up a new unit in Solapur district over next two years to support its export growing requirements.
Speaking to Business Standard, Classic Frozen Foods director Bhushan Kulkarni said, "Demand for frozen vegetables from India is increasing at almost 20 per cent every year. Especially, the gulf countries have been giving Indian firms the maximum business. Now, even countries like Australia and New Zealand are seeking frozen sweetcorn from India. This gives us an immense export opportunity."
Started in the year 2004 by Bhushan Kulkarni and Vikrant Shedge, Classic Frozen Foods presently has a capacity to supply 120 metric tonnes of frozen vegetables every month.
The two directors have so far invested more than Rs 25 lakh in this venture and the number would grow once the on-going acquisition process of Gomukh Foods gets over.
"We want to invest approximately Rs 2 crore to set up a new plant in Solapur district. The new unit will have a capacity to deliver up to 100 metric tonne frozen vegetables every month. Once this gets ready then our current unit would become an export oriented unit," added Vikrant Shedge, the other director.
Classic Frozen Foods draws vegetables primarily from western Maharashtra region. It also has its own farming land, which ensures heavy cost-cutting for the firm. The product line includes frozen sweetcorn, green peas, french beans, carrots, custard apples and strawberries. Other than domestic needs, the company supplies frozen vegetables to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The firm is eyeing an annual turnover of approximately Rs 8 crore once its Pirangut units turns fully operational. The same would touch Rs 15 crore over next three to four years once the second unit gets ready.
"Since the green peas are grown during a specific season, we outsource the manufacturing process to three units in Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana on lease basis. Globally, it has been proved that sweetcorn grown in western Maharashtra region beats its counterparts in Europe, US and New Zealand. It also meets the international pricing range and hence, we are drawing excellent export orders," added Kulkarni.
