Menu

MTR Foods

MTR Foods Private Limited is an Indian packaged foods company headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It produces a range of vegetarian convenience foods, including ready-to-eat curries, ready-to-cook gravies, instant breakfast mixes, spices, masalas, beverages, pickles, papads and frozen foods. The company traces its origins to the Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, a well-known South Indian restaurant in Bengaluru, and is today a subsidiary of the Norwegian conglomerate Orkla ASA.

Type Private limited company (subsidiary)
Industry Food processing
Headquarters Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Products Ready-to-eat meals, instant mixes, spices, masalas, beverages, pickles, papads, frozen foods
Parent Orkla ASA (through Orkla India)
Origin Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, Bengaluru

Background

The MTR brand grew out of the Mavalli Tiffin Rooms, a South Indian restaurant established by the Maiya family in Bengaluru in the early 20th century. The restaurant became known for its idli, dosa, rava idli and traditional Karnataka thali. During a period when the restaurant was forced to curtail operations because of price controls in the 1970s, the family began experimenting with packaged versions of its recipes, which laid the foundation for the foods business.

History

MTR Foods emerged as a separate enterprise focused on packaged food products derived from the restaurant's recipes. Over time, it expanded from instant mixes for South Indian breakfast items such as rava idli, dosa and gulab jamun into a wider portfolio that includes ready-to-eat meals in retort packaging, masalas, spice blends, vermicelli and beverages.

In 2007, the packaged foods business was acquired by Orkla ASA of Norway, which purchased the company through its food division. Following the acquisition, MTR Foods continued to operate under its established brand name and retained its Bengaluru base, while gaining access to Orkla's international distribution and technology resources. The restaurant business in Bengaluru remained with the Maiya family and is operated independently of MTR Foods.

In subsequent years, Orkla expanded its Indian portfolio by acquiring Eastern Condiments, a Kerala-based spices and masala maker, and integrated its Indian operations under a unified entity, with MTR Foods as a flagship brand.

Products

  • Instant breakfast mixes such as rava idli, dosa, vada and upma
  • Ready-to-eat curries and rice dishes in retort pouches
  • Ground spices and blended masalas
  • Sweets mixes including gulab jamun and badam mix
  • Pickles, papads and chutney powders
  • Beverages and dessert mixes
  • Frozen vegetarian foods

Significance

MTR Foods is regarded as a pioneer of packaged South Indian convenience foods in India and has been an early mover in retort-packaged ready-to-eat vegetarian meals with long shelf life without refrigeration. Its products have a significant presence in the Indian diaspora markets, and the brand is widely associated with the popularisation of South Indian cuisine in domestic and export retail.

References