Farmton Foods to set up Rs 580 crore frozen potato plant in Gujarat

New Delhi: Somnath Group’s subsidiary, Farmton Foods, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Gujarat during Vibrant Gujarat, announcing an investment of Rs 580 crore to develop a greenfield facility for frozen potato products. The project further reinforces Gujarat’s position as India’s leading agri-processing hub.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, India; Balvantsinh Rajput, Minister of Industries, Gujarat; Raghavji Patel, Minister of Agriculture, Gujarat; Rushikesh Patel, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Gujarat; Kanubhai Desai, Minister of Finance, Gujarat; Rameshbhai Mali, Managing Director, Farmton Foods; Dalpatbhai Mali, CEO, Farmton Foods; and Rohit Mali, Director, Farmton Foods.

Aligned with the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Initiative, the project underscores the Gujarat Government’s focus on industrial growth and strengthening the state’s agricultural progress.

Under the MoU, Farmton Foods will establish a state-of-the-art food processing plant with a capacity to produce 6.5 tons per hour of French fries and coated fries, and 2.5 tons per hour of hash browns and coated potato specialties. The facility is slated to begin production in 2026 and will serve both export (80%) and domestic (20%) markets.

With the vision of “Making in India for the World,” this initiative strengthens local manufacturing and positions it on the global stage.

In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the project emphasizes contract farming to provide steady income and non-risk earnings for local farmers. The company also has a sustainability roadmap, including a proprietary seed pipeline, 50% reduced water usage through advanced drip irrigation, and a zero-waste goal by 2030 by recycling peels into animal feed and bioenergy.

The company is connected with over 8,000 potato farmers through the group network, and around 5,500 farmers will be engaged directly under contract farming for processing operations.

Speaking on the occasion, Rameshbhai Mali, Managing Director, Farmton Foods, said, “This MoU represents an investment in our shared vision to empower local farmers, catalyze rural economic growth, and drive Gujarat’s industrial development while leveraging new-age food processing technology. We are proud to partner with the state government to make India a global hub for potato-based products.”

Backed by over 60 years of experience in the potato industry, Somnath Group leads 8,200 acres of potato cultivation in Gujarat in partnership with 8,000+ farmers, with storage capacity of 80,000 MT and an annual trading volume exceeding 75,000 MT.