Norwegian food company Orkla ASA told just-food today (14 February) that it has adopted a gradual approach to its entry into the Indian market, with its recent acquisition of Bangalore’s MTR Foods offering a chance to learn about the Indian food industry and potentially serving as a foothold for future growth.


MTR is an Indian manufacturer of processed vegetarian ready meals, ready mixes, spices and condiments. The company’s major shareholders are: the Maiya family, JPMorgan Global Packaged Foods, Indocean Packaged Foods and Magnus Capital Corporation.


“This is our first move into the Indian food sector,” EVP of corporate development Roar Engeland told just-food. “It is a new area for us. MTR is not a large acquisition for us: it is an investment to learn about India. It is also a possible platform for future growth,” he commented.


In 2006, MTR’s operating revenue totalled NOK230m.


MTR holds leading positions in the categories in which it operates – something Engeland said Orkla looks for in overseas investments. “When we are acquiring a foreign company, we look for good brands operating in a growth area. We also look for good management, because we cannot be on the ground to manage the company,” Engeland said.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Further financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.