Orkla India Ltd, a leading multi-category food company, is strengthening its packaged foods business by expanding its flagship MTR and Eastern brands, accelerating international growth, investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and enhancing distribution capabilities.
MTR has a strong presence in convenience foods and spices, particularly in Karnataka, while Eastern is a leading spices brand in Kerala. Together, they offer a wide range of products, including blended and pure spices, ready-to-cook (RTC) and ready-to-eat (RTE) meals.
Regional brands with national ambitions
MTR continues to expand beyond its traditional strongholds by introducing regional food products to consumers across India.
Eastern, meanwhile, is deepening its presence among Malayalee consumers in India and overseas by offering products that recreate authentic Kerala flavours.
Orkla India holds top slot in packaged spices in Karnataka through MTR and in Kerala through Eastern. It has also established a strong position in convenience foods by addressing key consumer needs across breakfast, sweets and meal categories.
Management comment
“Our commitment is to build a future-ready food company, one that grows alongside the evolving Indian consumer while remaining firmly rooted in trust, heritage and taste,” Chairman & Non-Executive Director Atle Vidar Nagel Johansen in a letter to shareholders.
The opportunity is structural, it is substantial, and we are pursuing it with focus and conviction,” he said.
Global expansion gathers pace
International markets are becoming an increasingly important growth driver for the company.
The contribution of overseas business increased from 19% in FY24 to 21% in FY26. Orkla India is expanding its presence across all six GCC countries while increasing investments in North America under its “Seed-Grow-Commit” market framework, which prioritises investments based on market potential and business maturity.
The company believes its portfolio of trusted Indian food brands is well placed to capture rising demand for authentic ethnic foods in global markets.
Technology and distribution
Orkla India is restructuring Eastern’s distribution network in Kerala to build a more efficient and scalable route-to-market.
The company is also accelerating the adoption of AI across its operations. It plans to embed AI-generated insights into business processes, automate routine tasks through agentic AI and improve engagement with digital-native consumers.
These initiatives are expected to strengthen decision-making, improve operational efficiency and support future growth.
Innovation drives future growth
Changing consumer preferences are creating significant opportunities for packaged foods, with consumers increasingly seeking authentic regional flavours, convenience and trusted brands.
The company believes a combination of culinary heritage, product innovation and technology will enable it to stay ahead of evolving consumer trends while expanding its presence across domestic and international markets.
Our Mission
“We enter FY27 with clarity of purpose and confidence in our model. We have the brands, the capabilities and the people to build something truly enduring, and we are fully committed to doing so with discipline, authenticity and long-term intent,” said Managing Director & CEO Sanjay Sharma.
The company added that its mission is to make everyday cooking easier and more enjoyable by offering local brands that combine taste, convenience and sustainability.