Abbott, one of India’s largest health care companies, with a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals has opened its first greenfield nutrition manufacturing plant at Jhagadia, Bharuch, in Gujarat with an investment of Rs450 crore ( $75 million).
Abbott’s Jhagadia plant will locally manufacture its high-quality nutritional products for India including Similac for infants; PediaSure, one of the leading toddler nutrition brands in India; Ensure, adult nutrition products; Mama’s Best, for expectant and breastfeeding moms; Glucerna, nutrition for people with diabetes.
Abbott’s new facility utilizes state-of-the-art technology for its advanced manufacturing operations, which follow high standards of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). Spread over an area of more than 39 acres (over 159,850 square meters), the Jhagadia plant uses a completely sealed production procedure with ‘Zero Touch’ and ‘Zero Exposure’ that ensures products are untouched by human hands until the final packaging stage and are not exposed to outside elements during manufacturing. Every product batch undergoes extensive quality testing and quality checkpoints to ensure product safety and accurate nutrient levels.
“Abbott is committed to not only providing nutrition, but also to help create stronger, healthier communities in India,” said Amal Kelshikar, country head and general manager, Abbott Nutrition, India. “We are expanding our presence in India by contributing to the local economy, providing more than 400 employment opportunities and investing in our local talent with extensive training and skill development.”
In addition, Abbott has designed the plant to help safeguard the environment by minimizing CO2 emissions, water use and waste. One example: the Jhagadia plant is the first nutrition facility in Gujarat to harness new environmentally friendly ‘Karnal’ technology to reuse water from the plant to nourish a new 10 acre forest of 6,800 eucalyptus and casuarina trees planted on-site. This innovative approach minimizes water waste, while creating a green area that adds to the local ecosystem.
“Abbott has served families in India for more than a century and is committed to helping people experience all that life has to offer through good health,” said John Landgraf, executive vice president, Global Nutrition, Abbott. “We believe that our ongoing commitment represents an investment in a healthier India by providing high-quality nutritional products that will meet the health needs of local consumers.”
In 2012, Abbott opened a nutrition R&D center in Bangalore to accelerate the development and delivery of local science-based nutrition products for India. The new nutrition manufacturing plant and Abbott’s nutrition R&D center will work together in an effort to deliver innovations that address unmet health needs while offering new flavors and formats that meet specific Indian tastes and preferences. One of the first products developed in India and manufactured at Jhagadia is PediaSure Kesar Badam, a saffron almond flavor.
Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat who inaugurated plant said “Abbott’s opening of a state-of-the-art nutrition manufacturing plant in Gujarat is a good example of ‘Make in India’. This investment not only generates jobs, but also demonstrates great community engagement. Health of the society is closely linked to nutrition and as nurturers; women in the community have a great role to play. The Government of Gujarat focuses on specific programmes that focus on eradicating malnutrition and helps maximize health, especially among women and children, together with Abbott.”
Investment of Rs. 450 crores furthers Abbott’s commitment to Gujarat, creates 400 jobs – Abbott plans to locally source up to 80% of ingredients for new plant in India; developing program to provide infrastructure and training to dairy farmers – Abbott commits Rs 3 crore to improve sanitation and health in local community Jhagadia.