Spices brand Eastern group to double capacity

Kochi-based Eastern group, which produces spices, seasonings and other food products for Indian and West Asian markets, plans to expand capacity and has set a turnover target of Rs 1,000 crore in the near future.

The company would expand masala and curry powder production capacity from 150 tonnes daily to 300 tonnes. For this, it will open a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district.

The group reported a turnover of Rs 550 crore. Its major verticals include condiments, treads, readymade apparels and mattresses.

The factory, spread over nine acres, has a built-up area of 60,000 sft. The warehousing facility has the capacity to hold more than 1,000 tonnes of raw material and processed goods separately.

The factory, using the modern building technology of Kirby construction, has a three-tier process flow as required by the food safety laws and energy efficiency. The factory allows totally human-hands-free manufacturing system under a fully controlled environment process, according to a company release.

The plant is designed in such a way that once the raw material is fed into the system, the product is taken out fully packed in the desired quantity after processing. When fully functional, the plant would have the capacity to produce 150 tonnes of masala and curry powder, thus making the total production capacity of Eastern Condiments to 300  tonnes. This is its fifth production facility.

Eastern has won Spices Board award for exports for the last 11 years continuously. Recently, US-based McCormic has bought stake in the company and the group plans to expand its presence in all major European and US markets.