'Nandini' To Supply Ghee For Tirupati Laddoo: Who Owns This Iconic Dairy Brand? | Explained

A major controversy erupted over the alleged adulteration of the famous Tirupati temple laddus (prasadam) in Andhra Pradesh, with accusations of animal fat and other substances being added.

The Chandrababu Naidu-led state government released a lab report confirming the adulteration. In response, the government replaced the ghee supplier for the laddus and reportedly blacklisted the company involved.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has now opted to use ghee from the 'Nandini' brand, and an order has already been placed.

Much like Amul and Mother Dairy are well-known brands in North India, 'Nandini' holds a similar standing in South Indian households, reported India TV.

Nandini is Karnataka's largest dairy brand and has a robust presence in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Goa. Nandini brand is owned by the Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (KMF), which is the second-largest dairy cooperative in India after Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the producer of Amul.

KMF's origins trace back to the establishment of the first cooperative dairy in Karnataka's Kodagu district in 1955. Back then, packaged milk wasn't common, and milk was directly delivered to homes by farmers.

By the 1970s, initiatives to increase milk production, aligned with India's 'White Revolution,' gained momentum, leading to the rise of dairy development schemes supported by the World Bank.

In 1974, the Karnataka government launched the Karnataka Dairy Development Corporation (KDCC) to implement these World Bank-supported projects.

By 1984, KDCC was renamed the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). Around this time, KMF introduced milk and other dairy products under the 'Nandini' brand, which soon became the leading dairy brand in Karnataka and expanded into neighboring states.

However, Nandini and Amul have become direct competitors. Last year, when Amul announced plans to enter Karnataka's retail market, it sparked a major outcry.

Political parties in Karnataka accused Amul of a "North Indian infiltration into the South."

This rivalry even played a role in the Karnataka Assembly elections, with KMF claiming that there has always been an "unwritten agreement" between dairy cooperatives not to encroach on each other's markets unless the local supplier fails to meet demand.