Oterra expands in India with new natural colour blending, application centre in Kochi 

INDIA – Oterra, a global leader in natural colours for the food and beverage industry, has inaugurated a new colour blending and application centre in Kochi, Kerala, India.  

The facility is set to cater to the growing demand for natural colours in India, the Asia Pacific region, and the Middle East. 

The new centre is located within Oterra’s subsidiary, Akay Natural Ingredients, and features state-of-the-art laboratories designed to help customers transition from artificial to natural colours. 

Martin Sonntag, CEO of Oterra, said: “India and the wider Asia Pacific region are becoming increasingly important markets for us, as consumers are favouring products made with natural ingredients.” 

He added that India’s strategic location provides easy access to emerging markets, including the Middle East, making it a key hub for Oterra’s expansion strategy. 

Previously, Oterra exported raw materials to its factories in Europe for processing before importing finished blends back into India.

With this new facility, the company can now supply natural colours directly to its customers, significantly reducing lead times and streamlining the supply chain. 

The Kochi facility will manufacture some of the most commonly used colour shades in the food and beverage industry, including yellow, orange, red, and pink, using turmeric, paprika, annatto, and red beet as key raw materials. 

The company has 120 workers engaged in production and laboratory operations at the site. The raw materials undergo spray drying and mixing before being integrated into food and beverage products. 

The facility also includes an innovation and application laboratory with cutting-edge equipment to support research and product development. 

“We will be able to support the majority of our customer’s needs from our lab in India for products such as juices, concentrates, hard-boiled candy, jelly gums, biscuits, and cakes,” said Manu Raj V, director and head of Operations at Akay Natural Ingredients. 

He noted that having a local facility allows Oterra to maintain a consistent supply of high-quality natural colours, enhance responsiveness to customer demands, and ensure faster market delivery. 

According to Innova Market Insights, Indian consumers are increasingly opting for food and beverages made with natural ingredients, avoiding artificial additives, preservatives, and highly processed ingredients. 

This trend aligns with the broader global shift towards clean-label products, creating growth opportunities for natural colour suppliers like Oterra. 

The new India facility follows Oterra’s expansion in the United States in December 2024, when the company opened a 155,000 sq ft manufacturing and logistics facility to meet growing demand for natural colours in the American market. 

Additionally, a May 2024 study by the Natural Colors Association (NATCOL) highlighted the influence of natural colours on US consumer purchasing decisions, further reinforcing the market’s shift away from synthetic additives.