United Biscuits invests $33m in India operation

UK-based United Biscuits will up its investment in India from £30m ($49m) to £50m ($82m).

The announcement was made last week when UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg signed a UK-India trade deal.

A UB spokesperson refused to comment on what the money would be spent on, but said: “United Biscuits is committed to the India market and will continue to invest there. The biscuit market in India is the largest food category. We are very pleased with the rapid growth of McVitie's in India and will continue to support its growth.”

The world’s number four biscuit player, UB, has operated a manufacturing facility in Himachal Pradesh since 2010. The firm produces smaller biscuits and fewer in a pack to cater to Indian consumers.

15% of the UB’s sales now come outside the UK and North West Europe compared to 5% five years ago.

In a recent interview with ConfectioneryNews, UB’s CEO for international Jeff van der Eems said that the company’s fastest growing export markets were Africa, the Middle East and China.