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Nestlé India laid the foundations for its first manufacturing facility in the eastern region at its new plant in Khurda, Odisha, last week (27 March). 

This new unit marks Nestlé India’s tenth factory and the first in this region, with the first phase having an initial outlay of approximately INR 900 crore (approx. $105.3m). The facility will manufacture items from the company’s food division, such as its ready-to-cook meals range.

The ceremony was attended by Odisha’s chief minister,  Mohan Charan Majhi, who extended his support for the move, stating that it would be a significant step in boosting local industrial growth.

Nestlé India’s chairman and managing director, Suresh Narayanan, spoke at the event to highlight that this new plant would focus on sustainable and digital-first manufacturing practices.

He said: "With a steadfast adherence to 'Make in India,' we announced our tenth factory in Odisha, reaffirming the significance of India as a market. We are confident that this upcoming factory will not only help us with our business but will also stand tall as a vibrant example of gender diversity, sustainable manufacturing, [and a] paperless, digitally managed facility with an abiding focus on the environment.”

Nestlé India opened its first site in Punjab in 1961 and now has facilities across the country, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, Goa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, which opened in 2021.