Emami Agrotech Ltd, the foods business arm of the Emami Group, on Thursday entered India’s over ₹50,000-crore packaged snacks market, while outlining plans to set up a ₹400-crore greenfield food manufacturing facility in West Bengal.
The company also aims to invest an additional ₹350 crore to build the business into a ₹1,000 crore brand over the next five to seven years, Emami Group director Vidula Agarwal said.
Vidula, a third-generation promoter and daughter of group director Aditya Agarwal, is spearheading the snacks projects.
1 August 2026
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Emami Agrotech is a separate entity from listed Emami Ltd.
The move is aimed at transforming the company from its traditional edible oils business into a broader food company, with the higher-margin snacks segment expected to improve profitability and business valuation.
The proposed plant, which will manufacture both staples and snack products, will be the company's second manufacturing facility in West Bengal after Haldia. The company is scouting for a suitable location and expects to complete the project within 24 months, Emami Group Director Aditya Agarwal told reporters.
"We are looking at a greenfield facility in West Bengal with an investment of around ₹400 crore. The location is yet to be finalised, and we expect to commission the plant in about 24 months. It will manufacture both staples and snacks," Agarwal said.
The company currently outsources production of its snack portfolio but plans to gradually shift manufacturing in-house as volumes scale up through the proposed facility.
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Explaining the strategic rationale behind the diversification, Agarwal said edible oil remains a low-margin business, while value-added food categories offer significantly better returns.
"Edible oils typically offer margins of 2-4%. Kitchen categories such as staples and spices generate around 6-15% margins, while snacks can deliver margins of 15-25%. As our foods portfolio expands, the overall margin profile of the business will improve," Aditya Agarwal said.
He added that the diversification would also help improve investors' perception of the company.
"Pure-play edible oil companies are generally not valued as food companies, and their valuations remain under pressure. Expanding into high-growth packaged foods and snacking will help reposition Emami Agrotech as a comprehensive food company," he said.
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The new venture marks Emami Agrotech's diversification beyond edible oils, staples and spices under its Healthy & Tasty portfolio into the fast-growing packaged snacking category.
The company launched WeMe, with an initial portfolio comprising potato chips, Jhuri Aloo Bhaja and chocolate hazelnut spread in ₹10 packs. The products will initially be sold within Kolkata before entering other markets.
"With edible oils, staples and spices, we have built a strong presence in consumers' kitchens. Snacking allows us to move to the dining table. It is a natural extension of our foods business and another step towards building Emami Agrotech into a comprehensive food company," Agarwal said.
Announcing the launch, Agarwal said the company sees snacking as one of India's most attractive packaged food opportunities.
"Having built a strong foods portfolio under Healthy & Tasty, WeMe marks our strategic entry into one of India's most exciting food categories. Backed by a planned investment of nearly ₹750 crore (plant and marketing), we aim to build WeMe into a ₹1,000-crore brand over the next five to seven years," she said.
The company expects the venture to create around 1,000 direct and nearly 3,000 indirect employment opportunities in the state as it scales up manufacturing, distribution and sales.
According to the company, India's packaged snacks market, valued at over ₹50,000 crore in 2025, is projected to surpass ₹1.03 lakh crore by 2034, driven by changing consumption patterns, premiumisation and the rapid expansion of quick-commerce channels.
