Himalaya International invests in Indian functional foods

India’s burgeoning middle class is opening up opportunities for functional foods, with nut-based products eyed by Himachal based Himalaya International set to open a new functional food project.

The company’s chairman, Manmohan Malik, said that the country’s booming middle class offered a huge potential for nut and fruit-based products. Himalaya International is eyeing the potential for incorporating processed California Almonds and berry fruits, he said.

To seize the opportunity, the company has announced the opening of a functional food project, claimed to be the first in India.

Malik added that the new initiative will lead to the processing of 20,000 kg of almonds a day and with a daily production of 400,000 nutrition bars.

India’s middle class is predicted to exceed 300 million people by the year 2012.