Collaboration and innovation needed for quality wheat products: Britannia MD

Says company has plans to roll out newer innovative products in future

Effective collaboration between the stake holders and development of innovative products are the factors needed for bringing in quality wheat products in the market, says Varun Berry, managing director, Britannia Industries Ltd.

Speaking at the 7th International Seminar on Wheat and Wheat Products, here on Tuesday, he said that collaboration is required between the stakeholders right from the farmers and millers to end-product manufacturers to bring out innovative quality wheat products, including biscuits in the domestic market.

Talking on the theme titled 'Gobal Trends in Bakery Product & Innovative Application of Wheat and Associated product', Berry said newer and innovative products, such as fresh from the oven, are being rolled out globally. The domestic industry has to take cue from it and act accordingly and the research and development activities has to be scaled up for this, he said.

He said that besides improving the R&D activities there was a need to improve infrastructure and there is also a need to closely work with packaging industry.

"The quality of wheat is critical. The wheat which is being produced currently may not of the standard, but we have to innovate the production and the process. Britannia has also plans to roll out these kind of newer and innovative products in the future," he said.

Calling on the wheat-based industry to work on the hygiene and quality standards, Berry said there was a perception that the industry has the lowest gross margins across the spectrum. " It is not difficult to register profits, provided that you have the right products," he said.

S Sivakumar, divisional chief executive, ITC Ltd - Agri Business Division, speaking on the theme new technologies to ensure food security said there are huge scope for technological implementation on the farm front for raising farm yield and enhancing the nutritional properties.

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