Ananda Dairy: A True Innovator of Packed Paneer in India [Forbes India]

Today the company operates more than 200 retail outlets and aims to give its customers a holistic experience, by opening up its entire fresh and comprehensive dairy products, including confectionery and bakery items for them to purchase. “The company wants to create happier consumers with its portfolio of 100+ products that add value to their overall well-being. We are transforming Ananda into a company that contributes to the development of food culture worldwide. Our goal is to continue to grow and develop as a company which makes a difference in society,” he asserts. Farmers are an integral part of Ananda Dairy operations as 75% of the raw material is milk. Therefore, the company works very closely with them.

They directly procure milk from farmers and process it at their manufacturing units to produce the best quality dairy products for their customers. “We take their pain as our pain. We oversee their feed management, cattle management, research, and design. We make sure that they grow with us. We started our factory of cattle feed, which produces 200 tonnes per day,” he says. The company has an excellent team that includes genetics scientists, veterinary doctors, and around 200 workers who do artificial insemination of the cattle. The company has its call centre, which ensures prompt reply to any question/query.

Latest Technologies adopted by Ananda Ananda has adopted a digital app-based distribution network and advances IT Capability implemented SAP HANA to stay ahead of the competition. Through this app, the distributors can seamlessly track and place a demand for milk and milk products. SAP HANA helps the company monitor end-to-end business activities, i.e. from procurement of milk to final sales. There is also an app for consumers to download the app, browse through their products, and order online.

The company has a minimum of 2 Lac investments in each village where they have set up machines to benefit farmers. The devices track how much milk is produced by farmer’s cows and gives him the slip so that he assures of getting his dues paid within five days. This system is fully computerized and runs by solar panels. Dr. Radhey Shyam Dixit plans to open a mini cattle farm for farmers so that they grow with the company. He believes that we should always work in such a way that helps other people. If you are not solving the problem of people, you cannot run a long-term business model. Ananda follows the Japanese concept called Kaizen in their organization. This concept means continuous improvement with everyone’s involvement. Here, everyone gives ideas and plan for the year, and once the plan gets implemented, everyone works together for a common goal. It helps the work environment not only getting efficient but also helps in improving everyday procedures and ensuring employee engagement. The idea is simple; everyone has a stake in its success, making the business model better.

“We firmly believe that the biggest asset of the organization is its employees, and we are proud to say that our highly skilled workforce of 2500 people is the backbone of the company. Everything gets decided at the beginning of the year, and nothing gets changed during the year. We have planned for the year 2025-26, we have decided by that time our turnover will be 3500 crores,” he adds. Ananda’s strength comes from its focus on food products and its market information-gathering capabilities. Dr. Radhey Shyam Dixit says that the company’s superior milk procurement, production, and quality are their biggest strength.

“We have a vast milk procurement network to provide customers with fresh, pure, and nutritious products directly from the farm. We have a network that reaches over 2 Lac farmers in over 6,000 different Indian villages. We have 36 chilling facilities all over the country with the capacity to collect over 7 Lac litres of milk daily and a capacity to handle over 10 Lac litres of milk per day,” he explains. Paneer Business One of the company’s main products is paneer, a type of cheese made by curdling milk in a vegetable-based acid. “We are a pioneer of paneer in India. Recently, Consumer VOICE tested pan- Indian paneer and have given us the Number 1 Paneer Award. This award is alongside awards for our plain curd and toned milk,” he says.

The company plans to take its paneer to each corner of India. The company implemented a unique distribution system by supplying paneer throughout India’s northern, western, and southern parts. It also has distributors in Canada, the US, and the UAE. The company has invested in a German-based machine that manufactures paneer 100% untouched by hands. “We keep on innovating with our products to keep ahead of the competition. We started the concept of packed paneer in India, which later was adopted by many other companies. Our mission is to produce 100 tonnes of paneer per day,” he asserts.