French gourmet brand invests Rs. 300 cr in TS unit

Hyderabad: In a significant development for Telangana State, the French gourmet flavourings company Georges Monin SAS has announced an investment of Rs. 300 crore in its first manufacturing unit in India, located in Guntapally village in Sangareddy district. The company laid the foundation stone for this unit on Wednesday and aims to have it operational within 18 months. The project is expected to directly employ around 100 people and create indirect
employment opportunities for approximately 250 individuals.

Prior to choosing Telangana for this manufacturing unit, Monin conducted surveys in eight other states. This unit represents the company's first foray into South Asia and occupies a 40-acre site.

During the foundation laying ceremony, industries and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao highlighted the state's efforts to attract investments across various sectors. He encouraged Monin to consider Telangana state as its hub and expand its investments further.

"We are pleased to welcome Monin to Telangana. The state has worked
diligently to create an investor-friendly industrial policy. With Monin
joining our list of investors, Telangana's food processing ecosystem
receives a significant boost," said Rama Rao, emphasising the importance of creating local job opportunities. He also mentioned Telangana's efforts in fostering agricultural, fishery, meat, dairy, and edible oil revolutions.

Monin, a premium French brand established in 1912 and headquartered in Bourges, France, boasts a portfolio of 150 flavours widely used in coffee shops, bars, quick-service chains, restaurants, and more. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Monin India, was established in Hyderabad. In 2018, the company committed to investing Rs 100 crore for a manufacturing plant and an in-house research and development centre in Telangana state. This investment was doubled to Rs 200 crore in 2021, and now it has further increased to Rs 300 crore.

"Investment in India has become a priority market for us, leading to the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary in India," noted Olivier Monin, president and chairman of Georges Monin SAS.

In Phase-I, Monin plans to construct a 2 lakh sqft facility that will house
the India headquarters, an R&D centre, and a production unit. This
manufacturing facility will primarily cater to the Indian customer base and neighbouring South Asian markets.

Germain Araud, managing director of Monin India, highlighted that one of the key reasons for establishing an R&D and manufacturing base in India is to meet customer demands with tailor-made preparations. This move will enable the introduction of local flavours in India before expanding to other Monin entities.