Telangana Foods, the State government-owned nutrition food manufacturing enterprise, which has completed five decades of its service in supplying nutritious food to children and women, has been recommended by the Central government as the role model to be replicated across the country.
The recognition for Telangana Foods has come from a recent Government of India exercise to examine different Take Home Ration (THR) models being implemented in various States.
A committee constituted by the Centre, in association with international organisations GAIN and UNICEF, studied different models and reportedly recommended the Telangana model of manufacture and supply through Telangana Foods as a unique and effective model that could be replicated across the country.
Supplies to 15.48 lakh children
Telangana Foods currently supplies nutritious food to children aged seven months to six years, including those categorised as severely and moderately acutely malnourished, through 149 ICDS projects and 35,781 Anganwadi centres in all 33 districts of Telangana. It caters to around 15.48 lakh children in the State.
It also supplies food to 16.12 lakh children through 55,746 Anganwadi centres in 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Its major ready-to-eat products include Balamrutham, Balamrutham Plus and snack food, besides hot food products such as Kichidi Mix and Upma Mix.
Chairman of Telangana Foods MA Faheem said its Balamrutham production capacity had increased from 1,500 metric tonnes to 6,000 MT per month, with an annual turnover of around ₹350 crore. It operates round-the-clock in three shifts and is an ISO 22000:2018-certified organisation.
New plants and revival of production
Telangana Foods has expanded its infrastructure over the years. A snack food processing plant was established in 1980 with UNICEF assistance, followed by the Automatic Energy Food Plant in 1986. It functions under the Women and Children Welfare department headed by Minister D. Seethakka.
The State government had initiated two new projects, an extruder plant and a new Balamrutham plant, in 2011-12 at a cost of ₹80 crore. Though arrangements for the extruder plant were made earlier and it was inaugurated in December 2022, full-scale production did not begin then. Continuous production resumed in December 2024 following efforts by the present State government.
The new Balamrutham plant, with a production capacity of 10,000 MT, became operational in 2026 and was inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy last month. A foundation stone was also laid for a new canteen building and godown on May 7.
Another initiative was the launch of Upma and Kichidi mixes on March 28, 2026, aimed at providing nutritious morning meals to Anganwadi children. “The idea of Mr. Revanth Reddy to provide nutritious meals to Anganwadi children is being widely acclaimed,” says Mr. Faheem.
Established in 1976 with the assistance of CARE, UNICEF and the Government of India, the organisation was set up to manufacture and supply nutritious food to malnourished school-going and pre-school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. It functions under the Telangana Nutrition Council and the Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens.
The organisation has its origins in a Central government initiative launched in 1970 to address malnutrition and school dropouts linked to poverty in four districts of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh — Mahbubnagar, Hyderabad, Nalgonda and Rangareddy. A centralised kitchen was subsequently established in 1971 with the support of the Centre and State governments, CARE and UNICEF.
In 1973-74, then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Jalagam Vengala Rao inaugurated a modern ready-to-eat food factory at Nacharam Industrial Area in Hyderabad. Originally known as AP Foods, the organisation was subsequently renamed Telangana Foods after the State bifurcation.
Focus on quality and employees
Mr. Faheem revealed that around 99% of beneficiaries receive Balamrutham, Balamrutham Plus and snack food every month as per indent. It has also introduced new packaging designs for Balamrutham, Balamrutham Plus, Kichidi Mix and Upma Mix.
The food quality and hygiene are monitored regularly across the campus. The organisation is also covered under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Telangana Foods has a sanctioned cadre strength of 412, with 200 personnel in position as of June 30, 2026, apart from 518 contract workers engaged in production activities.
Several long-pending employee issues have also been addressed in recent years, according to the organisation. Allowances under 22 categories were increased by 15%, while promotions were given to 187 employees.
A 33-year-old issue relating to casual employees was resolved with the regularisation of 32 workers with the intervention of the Chief Minister. The organisation has also introduced a ₹5 lakh employee health insurance scheme in April 2026 after Mr. Faheem took over as the Chairman.
Published – August 29, 2026 06:00 am IST
