PBFIA request for a cold storage facility at Bengaluru railway station

PBFIA requested a cold storage facility at Bengaluru railway station.

According to the Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA), Indian Railways has replied positively to a request from the plant-based food industry for a cold storage facility at Bengaluru railway station.

According to a PBFIA statement, the association’s team, led by Executive Director Sanjay Sethi, approached Shyam Singh, Divisional Railway Manager of South Western Railway, and Kusuma Hariprasad, Additional Divisional Manager, to assist in making Bengaluru the epicentre for plant-based foods.

Shyam Singh expressed satisfaction at the end of the discussion that a transit cold storage facility for plant-based goods was a just demand. Also Read | Karnataka to implement new agriculture policy to promote Agri as an industry.

According to the report, Shyam Singh expressed strong interest and requested that the PBFIA offer a full proposal for the cold storage facility. On this occasion, the PBFIA also proposed a training program for railway food workers.

Sunrise industry

According to the statement, which quotes Sethi, plant-based food is at a stage before sunrise and is seeing substantial growth, as evidenced by numerous young entrepreneurs. Food handler training is required to assist them to understand the importance of the cold chain and educate them to deal with various threats.

A level playing field and economies of scale are essential for this industry to succeed. With the introduction of major Indian firms such as Tata Consumer Products, which established a new brand under the name Tata Simply Better and offers plant-based chicken patties, spicy fingers, nuggets, and kebabs, he believes the market is now moving in that way.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, and some meat products are currently stored in cold chain facilities. Having a separate room for plant-based foods can help businesses not only ship their products but also keep their packaged frozen products at the right temperature.

‘It will be a key move that would lower logistical costs and bring about price parity in Bengaluru, which is a center for innovation,’ Sethi added.

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