Allana Group eyes domestic market push, plans to double India turnover

After decades of being an export-led player, Allana Group is shifting focus to India’s fast-growing processed food market. The 160-year-old conglomerate’s processed food division, which contributes $1.5 billion and accounts for 95% of its business, now plans to double its domestic turnover within the next three to five years.

“We want to replicate in India the scale we have achieved globally. Our ambition is to be among the top three players in poultry within the next two to three years,” Manish Muley, CEO of the Processed Food Division at Allana Group, told Fortune India.

He believes the recent GST rate cut will accelerate this shift. “The industry in general has decided to pass on the benefits to the consumer, which will see a big demand. Some players may adjust through pricing, others by offering higher grammage, but either way, per capita consumption will rise,” he added.

The group currently operates across 85 countries with 15 processing plants, 5,000 employees, and 25,000 associates. Meat exports form the largest part of its portfolio, but Muley said categories like pet food, coffee, fruits, and frozen foods are also being scaled up for the Indian market.

B2C foray

Traditionally a B2B player, Allana is now moving directly to consumers. Its recent push into pet food under the Bowlers brand and expansion of London Dairy ice cream in India mark this transition. “B2C is going to be the way forward. We are formulating a strategy to triple our domestic businesses in the next three to five years,” Muley said, adding that the confidence comes from an already strong B2B base. “The next scale will come from this transition to B2C.”

The company is also betting big on chicken, French fries, coffee, and fruit pulps, alongside building its Mumbai Meat Company for the local market. Muley stressed that categories such as pet food and protein will drive future growth in India, which he called the “fastest growing market” in the company’s portfolio.

While India is now the growth priority, exports remain the backbone of Allana’s business. The company’s meat exports alone contribute over a billion dollars annually, with GCC nations, Egypt, Malaysia, and Vietnam among its top markets. Muley added that fruits, coffee, and frozen products continue to see healthy international demand.

On infrastructure, Muley highlighted that Allana owns India’s largest private refrigerated capacity—65,000 tonnes—alongside a dedicated fleet for cold-chain logistics. “Our business depends on minus 18 degrees. We are well invested in infrastructure and believe upcoming road and port connectivity will unlock three to four percentage points of cost advantage,” he said.