Mother Dairy Hikes Milk Prices by ₹2/Litre Effective April 30, 2025

Mother Dairy, a leading milk supplier in the Delhi-NCR region, has announced a price hike of ₹2 per litre across multiple milk variants starting Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The revision applies to both pouch and bulk milk categories.

According to the company, the move is aimed at addressing the surge in procurement costs, driven largely by heatwave conditions and the early onset of summer.

Updated Mother Dairy Milk Prices from April 30, 2025

Mother Dairy has revised the prices of the following milk categories:

Toned Milk (Bulk Vended):

• Old Price: ₹54/litre

• New Price: ₹56/litre

Full Cream Milk (Pouched):

• Old Price: ₹68/litre

• New Price: ₹69/litre

Toned Milk (Pouched):

• Old Price: ₹56/litre

• New Price: ₹57/litre

Double Toned Milk (Pouched):

• Old Price: ₹49/litre

• New Price: ₹51/litre

Cow Milk:

• Old Price: ₹57/litre

• New Price: ₹59/litre

Why Has Mother Dairy Raised Milk Prices?

The company attributed the increase to rising input and procurement costs.

“This price revision has become necessary to address the significant increase in purchasing costs, which has risen by 4-5 rupees per liter over the past few months,” an official of the company stated on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.

The official further explained that the hike is mainly due to higher procurement costs stemming from early summer and heatwave conditions, which have impacted milk production and supply.

Mother Dairy’s Role in the Delhi-NCR Market

Mother Dairy supplies approximately 35 lakh litres of milk daily in the Delhi-NCR region through its own booths, general retail, and online platforms.

“We remain committed to ensuring the consistent availability of quality milk to consumers while supporting the livelihoods of our farmers,” the official added.
“This revision represents only a partial pass-through of the increased costs, aiming to equitably serve the interests of both farmers and consumers,” he further said.

History of Mother Dairy

The history of Mother Dairy is closely intertwined with India's efforts to become self-sufficient in milk production. Here's a breakdown of its journey:

The Genesis: Operation Flood (1970s)

• Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

• Its establishment was a direct result of "Operation Flood," the world's largest dairy development program launched in 1970. The aim of Operation Flood was to make India a milk-sufficient nation by improving livestock productivity, organizing dairy farmers into cooperatives, and creating a national milk grid.

• The NDDB was mandated to replicate the successful "Anand pattern" of dairy cooperatives (like Amul) across India, and Mother Dairy was a key instrument in achieving this in the Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).

Early Years and Focus (1974 - 1980s)

• Initially, Mother Dairy primarily focused on Delhi and the NCR, establishing a robust network of milk booths to distribute quality milk to consumers.

• The core objective was to provide quality and affordable milk while ensuring fair returns for the dairy farmers organized under the cooperative structure.

• Mother Dairy sourced a significant portion of its liquid milk requirements from dairy cooperatives and village-level farmer-centric organizations, staying true to the principles of Operation Flood.

• In December 1978, Mother Dairy Calcutta was established as a separate entity under the Government of West Bengal, also as part of the Operation Flood II program. Its initial capacity was to process and market 4 lakh liters of fluid milk per day. The management of Mother Dairy Calcutta was later handed over to the West Bengal Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd. in 1996.

Diversification and Expansion (1990s - 2010s)

• Over time, Mother Dairy expanded its product portfolio beyond liquid milk to include a wide range of dairy products such as Dahi (yogurt), Lassi, Chhach (buttermilk), Paneer (Indian cheese), Butter, Ghee (clarified butter), flavored milk, and ice cream.

• In 1988, NDDB established the Fruit & Vegetable Project in Delhi under the brand "Safal."

• In April 2000, to streamline commercial and developmental activities, the NDDB merged Mother Dairy and the Fruit & Vegetable Project into a single wholly-owned company named Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd (MDFVPL). This led to the inclusion of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, juices, and other packaged food products under the "Safal" brand.

• Mother Dairy gradually expanded its geographical presence beyond the NCR to other major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

• The company also ventured into the edible oil segment with the brand "Dhara."

Recent Developments (2020s - Present)

• Mother Dairy has continued its focus on product innovation, introducing new variants in its existing categories and entering new segments like bread (in 2020) and frozen food (vegetables, snacks).

• The company has been actively expanding its distribution network, which includes thousands of milk booths, "Safal" outlets, general trade stores, and a growing presence in modern trade and e-commerce platforms.

• Mother Dairy has a significant market share in the organized milk sector in Delhi-NCR, reportedly selling over 3.5 million liters of milk per day in this region alone as of April 2025.

• The company has been investing significantly in expanding its processing capacity. As of March 2024, Mother Dairy had nine company-owned dairy processing plants with a total capacity of over 50 lakh liters per day. They are also setting up new plants in regions like Nagpur, Maharashtra, and expanding horticulture processing facilities in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

• Mother Dairy's turnover has been steadily increasing, reaching over ₹15,000 crore (around $1.8 billion USD) in FY24 and projecting further growth in FY25.

• In January 2020, Mother Dairy opened its first restaurant, "Café Delights," in Noida, with plans for further expansion.

• The company emphasizes its strong supply chain, including a "mini reverse supply chain" to check milk contamination.

In conclusion, Mother Dairy has evolved from a milk-selling unit established under Operation Flood to a major diversified food conglomerate in India. Its history is marked by a commitment to quality, farmer welfare, and meeting the evolving needs of Indian consumers. Its strong presence in the dairy sector, coupled with its expansion into fruits, vegetables, edible oils, and other food segments, positions it as a significant player in the Indian food industry.