KRBL Enters Edible Oil Business

New Delhi, July 8: KRBL Ltd, the company behind the renowned India Gate basmati rice brand, has strategically diversified its portfolio by entering the edible oils segment. The company launched its health-focused “India Gate Uplife” range in February 2025 and is targeting a revenue of ₹200-300 crore within the next three years.

New Products Target Gut Health and Weight Management

KRBL’s initial foray into the edible oil market includes two distinct blended oil variants, specifically formulated to address contemporary health concerns:

• Gut Pro: This blend consists of 80% rice bran oil and 20% refined soybean oil. It is designed to promote gut health and aid digestion, leveraging the benefits of rice bran oil, which has been studied for its potential to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and its overall richness in fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants.
• Lite: This variant is a combination of 80% rice bran oil and 20% refined sunflower oil, specifically developed for weight management. Sunflower oil, despite being calorie-dense, contains unsaturated fats that can help in weight management by promoting satiety and supporting metabolism.

Both products are competitively priced between ₹192 and ₹199 per litre, positioning them approximately 5.7% higher than Saffola’s blended oils, indicating KRBL’s entry as a premium player in this niche.

Competing with Saffola in a Niche Segment

“Saffola has been the only dominant brand in the blended edible oils category, which has a market size of 1.1 lakh tonnes. We intend to expand this space with differentiated health offerings,” stated Ayush Gupta, Business Head (Domestic) at KRBL. Saffola, owned by Marico Limited, has historically held a significant market share (reportedly over 80% in 2021) in the ultra-premium edible oil segment, primarily focusing on heart health.

KRBL aims to achieve 2,000 tonnes in sales and ₹50 crore in revenue in the current fiscal year. The long-term goal for the next three years is to reach 8,000-10,000 tonnes in sales volume and ₹200-300 crore in revenue.

Share Price Performance

The shares of KRBL Limited closed at ₹395.70, up by 0.98% or ₹3.85. The shares made an intraday high of ₹402 and a low of ₹392.05.

Distribution Strategy and Future Plans

The production and packaging of the new edible oil range have been outsourced by KRBL. Currently, the “India Gate Uplife” products are available through modern trade channels, as well as leading e-commerce and quick commerce platforms. The company plans a wider rollout across general trade channels in the near future to ensure broader market penetration.

Kunal Sharma, Marketing and Business Head at KRBL, emphasised the unique positioning of their new products. He noted that most blended edible oils, including Saffola’s offerings, primarily focus on heart health. “We’ve identified gut health and weight management as underserved needs, and that’s where our products are uniquely positioned,” Sharma added.

India’s Edible Oil Landscape

India’s edible oil market is substantial, with a total market size of 243 lakh tonnes. Refined edible oils account for 66 lakh tonnes of this market. Within the refined oils segment, rice bran oil holds a market share of 2.6 lakh tonnes, while blended oils constitute a smaller but growing segment of 1.1 lakh tonnes.

KRBL, which reported revenue of ₹5,594 crore for FY25, is now also exploring opportunities in fortified staples and value-added functional foods. This broader strategy aims to engage a growing segment of health-conscious younger consumers, building on the trusted “India Gate” brand.

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