India's Most Trusted Food Consultants

Setup cost varies by product and scale. A small or semi-micro unit starts from ₹8-15 lakh. A more automated setup can range from ₹20-40 lakh or more. Under the PMFME scheme, you can get a 35% government subsidy of up to ₹10 lakh.

Every food business needs FSSAI registration, GST registration, and a trade licence from the local municipal body. For FSSAI: turnover below ₹12 lakh needs basic registration, ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore needs a state licence, and above ₹20 crore needs a Central licence. Exporters additionally need APEDA registration.

Prioritize compliance-led layout and scalability. Key priorities: Zonal Segregation (linear flow separating raw materials, processing, packaging, and dispatch per FSSAI Schedule 4/GMP standards), Infrastructure Essentials (high-quality water systems and waste handling), Scalable Machinery (equipment rated 20-30% above current needs), and Regulatory Timing (meet all FSSAI infrastructure standards from day one).

Conduct a waste audit, implement FIFO inventory rotation, standardise batch sizes, and calibrate equipment regularly. Most food units lose 8-12% of raw material to preventable causes.

They handle the parts most applications fail on: a bankable Detailed Project Report, correct scheme identification (PMFME is for micro enterprises, PMKSY is for larger infrastructure), and bank credit linkage. Under PMFME, eligible applicants get a 35% subsidy up to ₹10 lakh. Under PMKSY, grant assistance ranges from 35% to 75% depending on the component.

A failed launch in a new market typically costs ₹5 to 20 lakhs in wasted production, packaging, and distribution. Consultants run market research before production starts, handle recipe standardisation and shelf-life testing, manage FSSAI approvals for new product categories, and map the distribution path into the target market.

They handle recipe standardisation, shelf-life testing, packaging selection, and FSSAI approval, reducing your launch time and costly trial-and-error.

Get APEDA registration, test your product at an accredited lab, and ensure your labelling meets the importing country's standards. Requirements vary across the US, EU, and UAE markets.

Basic Registration is for petty food businesses with annual turnover below ₹12 lakh. State License is for manufacturers with turnover between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore. Central License is for businesses with turnover above ₹20 crore, plus all importers, exporters, and multi-state operators. Operating under the wrong category can lead to penalties and application delays.

Small (semi-automated): 3 to 5 months. Medium (partially automated): 5 to 8 months (includes machinery lead times). Large (fully automated): 9 to 12+ months. Apply for your FSSAI license when the facility is 80% complete to save 4-6 weeks on the mandatory 60-day inspection wait time.

SolutionBuggy has 600+ verified food industry consultants operating across 50+ cities in India including Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, and Surat. Submit your requirement through our platform and we will match you with a food consultant in your city or region within 24 hours.

Implement HACCP or ISO 22000 as your food safety management system before an FSSAI inspector arrives. FSSAI audits check Schedule 4 compliance infrastructure, equipment hygiene, pest control, and written SOPs for every manufacturing process. Staff food handler hygiene training needs to be documented. Internal audits every 3 to 6 months catch gaps before the official inspection does.