Chips en Snacks uit Gujarat

Unites State based food giant General Mills Inc is exploring an investment in Balaji Wafers, joining a crowded field of suitors that includes PepsiCo, ITC Ltd, and several private equity funds, according to a report by The Economic Times (ET).

Farmers' rights activists on Tuesday planted FL-2027 seed potatoes on a plot of farmland in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to protest food and beverages major PepsiCo's reassertion of rights over the variety.

The legal battle between a number of potato farmers in Gujarat accused of illegally growing a proprietary variety and food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo India may be headed for an out-of-court settlement.

PepsiCo has sued three potato farmers in Gujarat complaining that they have been illegally growing and selling a variety of potato exclusively registered to Pepsico for the use of producing its Lays potato chips.

Balaji, one of the largest regional potato chips and snacks brands in India, will soon move into the production of French fries and other frozen potato specialty products, according to Chandu Virani, MD of Balaji Wafers.

Rajkot-based Balaji Wafers Private Limited is in process of increasing its production capacity of its plant in Rajkot by 50 percent.

Indian snacks maker Balaji Wafers Private Limited is now preparing to come out with an initial public offering (IPO) to raise fund for its future expansions. The company that was in talks with private equity (PE) funds to sell stake, has dropped the idea of stake sale for now.

Balaji Wafers Pvt. Ltd is in advanced talks with Capital International Private Equity Funds (CIPEF) to sell nearly 15% in the snacks maker according to two people familiar with the development, who did not want to be named.

McCain Foods India, which sources potatoes for its french fries and wedges from Deesa in Gujarat, may look at other states such as Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal or Uttar Pradesh to procure potatoes

Taking a cue from the success of ITC's Bingo, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), universally known for its dairy products brand Amul, has decided to enter the branded snacks market with Munch Time, a salty snack much like Frito Lay’...