Protein product emerges as another expansion engine for Milky Mist

T Sathishkumar (left) , CMD, Milky Mist Dairy Food Ltd and K. Rathnam, Whole-time Director and CEO, at a press conference in connection with the company's IPO, in Chennai. 12/8/26 Photo : Bijoy Ghosh

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Expansion of its protein products category will be a potential growth avenue and use of funding proceeds alongside geographical expansion, Milky Mist Dairy Food Ltd executives said here on Wednesday.The Erode, Tamil Nadu-based dairy company has already initiated a project to extract protein from cheese whey - a byproduct of cheese making - and convert it into protein-based products, K Rathnam, Whole-time Director and CEO, Milky Mist, said at a roadshow here for the company’s IPO.The initiative will allow Milky Mist to derive greater value from a by-product of its cheese and paneer manufacturing operations, he said.Yoghurt plantAs part of its product-line expansion, Milky Mist plans to install a fully automated yoghurt manufacturing plant with a capacity of 60 tonnes per day. The facility will have an integrated packing line capable of handling multiple packaging configurations with a packing capacity of 21,600 containers per hour, according to the RHP.The investments will expand the company’s manufacturing capabilities in categories where it already has a presence while allowing it to scale production as demand for branded and value-added dairy products increases, said Rathnam.About 69 per cent of the company’s business is currently concentrated in southern markets, while it is expanding its presence in western and northern India. The company has been strengthening its market infrastructure in these regions and is seeing encouraging traction, said Rathnam.A 50-acre manufacturing facility at Baramati in Maharashtra, is currently at the planning stage and could be completed in about three to four years, he added. The proposed facility is expected to manufacture a combination of paneer, cheese, curd, yoghurt and ice cream, enabling Milky Mist to locate production closer to consumers in western India.The company did not disclose the proposed investment for the facility.Broader transitionMilky Mist’s strategy is rooted in the broader transition in India’s dairy market from unbranded and commodity products to branded, packaged and value-added dairy products, said its CMD, T Sathishkumar. The company has built its portfolio around products including paneer, cheese, curd, yoghurt, butter, ghee and ice cream, rather than competing primarily in the liquid milk market.The ₹1,553-crore IPO comprises a fresh issue of ₹1,428 crore and an offer for sale of ₹125 crore. The issue will remain open for subscription until August 13, 2026.Published on August 12, 2026