Food Processing Unit

Everything you need to know about food processing units in India, different food processing units in India, what is food processing unit, food processing unit setup cost in India, how to start food processing business, how to start a food processing industry in India.

India is a country that generates most of its revenue through its agricultural produce and is considered to have an agrarian economy. India has a rich heritage of farming and manufacturing organic products where many families maintain the legacy of farming, thereby making it the 6th largest country in the food and grocery market and fifth largest retail market at the global level. In general, the food processing industry in itself is an emerging space and is seen as the potentially leading industry in the near future.

Here we have come up with some tips and other things to consider while starting your own food processing unit.

What is a food processing unit?

Food processing includes all the methods and techniques involved in converting a raw material or a combination of raw materials into a consumable product for the consumption of humans. Food processing units include practices such as agriculture, horticulture, plantation, animal husbandry and fisheries. It also includes any other industries that use agriculture inputs for manufacturing of edible products. This manufacturing industry has become a site of investment and profits. The net worth of the processed food industry is estimated to be around Rs.110 billion and it is fast accelerating at a rate of 10-15% per annum. The food processing units consist of 9 categories based on the basic raw materials being used, such as Onion processing and onion products, Potato processing and potato-based products, Fruits and vegetables production, etc.

Why are food processing units important?

This is a very essential process that could make any type of food available throughout the year irrespective of its seasonal nature or easily perishable variety. Mass production of these processed foods can be very profitable unlike made by an individual.

Benefits of investing in India

1. In India, this is a prospective industry due to the increased demand by the majority of the urban middle-class population
2. Availability of raw materials is abundant
3. Change in the consumption patterns
4. Comparatively low cost of production
5. Attractive fiscal incentives that make India the best option

How to start a food processing unit in India?

The Indian government has laid down many policies and schemes to help set up food processing units in India and to provide them with financial support for modernizing the industry. In order to start any food-related business, FSSAI license is mandatory. There are different types of FSSAI license available and it varies according to the business type. However, there are certain procedures to be followed in order to legally safeguard the company, such as:

Business research and market analysis:

Understanding the market and choosing the product to be manufactured is the most crucial part of starting any business. While choosing the product, the investor must keep in mind the viability of the product in the market. It is also important to research the economic and industrial outcomes of the current food processing industries, which will be useful in determining the market size, competitors and their trends. Once the basic market research is done, the business must be structured according to the needs to make it legally stable. 

Location of the factory:

Deciding the market size is necessary to find a suitable location for the factory. It is advisable to determine a location that has feasible and easily accessible resources such as manpower, raw materials, electricity sources, transportation facilities, etc. Another important factor to consider is the government provided subsidies and tax exemption in some states of India. An ideal location can be derived by analysing these factors along with the availability of raw materials in a certain location. The perishable nature of food and duration must be taken into consideration in order to maintain good produce throughout the year.

Business plan and strategies:

All the research and analysis made at the beginning must then be streamlined as per the requirements of the processing units. New policies and strategies must be formulated for the company to generate a blueprint of how the company should function and the future plans must be roughly decided. In the case of food processing units, one needs to bear in mind the future outcomes of the industry and the growing trends too.

Funding:

Every business needs to be funded for bringing in the materials and maintaining the value chain once the industry grows. The funds also tend to vary according to the size and nature of the industry. So it is important to have shareholders and to find a constant source of funding for the company.

Legal implications:

Once a company is formed, it has to be registered with the relevant authorities before the business is set into motion. The Companies Act 2013 specifies that the companies must be registered by submitting certain documents and requisite forms in order to get itself registered as a company in India. The company must also get registered for the various taxes such as PAN, TAN, Sales Tax, Excise & Customs Registration, Service Tax, etc. the trademark must also be protected from being claimed by others, so an IPR registration which includes patents, copyrights, etc. is mandatory. Other acts such as Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and under Standard and Weight Measure Act must be followed and various licenses for operating in India, such as trade license, food license, industrial license, etc. is necessary.

Implementation:

With all the necessary steps to start a food processing unit ready, it is important to strategically implement all the mandatory requirements. Everything needs to be put into place. The human resources and infrastructure must be regulated and separate divisions of workers must be used to improve the sales and quality of the product.