DSM Fresh Foods Limited, which operates the Zappfresh brand, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Gohpur Fish Farmer Producer Company Limited to develop a freshwater aquaculture project in Assam.
The project will come up in Village Jokapora in Gohpur, Biswanath district, and is expected to produce around 300 tonnes of freshwater fish every year.
Shares of DSM Fresh Foods were trading at ₹89.50, down 0.47 percent from the previous close of ₹89.92. The company has a market capitalization of ₹199.47 crore and trades at a P/E ratio of 13.88.
100-acre project in Assam
The proposed project will span around 100 acres and will focus on scientific aquaculture practices.
The initiative will cover multiple stages of the value chain, including:
- Fish seed sourcing.
- Feed management.
- Water quality monitoring.
- Harvesting.
- Processing.
- Cold-chain infrastructure.
- Distribution.
Gohpur Fish Farmer Producer Company, led by Anup Sarmah, will manage on-ground execution and operations.
Second major aquaculture partnership
The Assam project marks Zappfresh’s second major aquaculture collaboration after its earlier partnership with Varuna Aquatech.
The company is expanding its seafood sourcing network as part of its backward integration strategy.
Asset-light model
Instead of owning and operating farms directly, Zappfresh is partnering with a Farmer Producer Company (FPC).
The model is aimed at securing long-term supplies without large capital investments in land and farm development.
The company estimates that moving towards direct sourcing could reduce procurement costs by 15-20 percent.
Focus on East India
Assam and the Northeast are among India’s major fish-consuming regions.
The project is expected to strengthen Zappfresh’s presence in East India while also supporting supplies for other markets.
The company said fish sourced from scientifically managed farms could provide an “Assam Origin” proposition with a traceable supply chain.
Cold-chain infrastructure
The project will include processing and cold-chain facilities.
According to industry estimates cited by the company, post-harvest losses in fragmented supply chains can reach 25 percent.
Zappfresh aims to bring those losses down to below 5 percent through integrated operations.
Wider protein portfolio
The freshwater fish initiative will complement the company’s existing seafood operations in:
- Shrimp.
- Marine products.
The move is expected to broaden the company’s protein offerings.
Employment opportunities
The company said the project is expected to generate direct and indirect employment across:
- Farming.
- Processing.
- Logistics.
- Distribution.
Participation from local women’s self-help groups is also expected to be part of the project ecosystem.
About the company
DSM Fresh Foods Limited operates the Zappfresh brand, a digital-first platform for fresh meat, poultry and seafood products.
The New Delhi-based company focuses on hormone-free and antibiotic-free protein products and is building integrated sourcing and supply-chain capabilities across multiple categories.
The company is listed on the BSE.
TL;DR
Zappfresh has signed an MoU with Gohpur Fish Farmer Producer Company to develop a 100-acre aquaculture project in Assam. The venture is expected to produce 300 tonnes of freshwater fish annually and forms part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its seafood supply chain.
AI summary
- Zappfresh has signed an MoU for a 100-acre aquaculture project in Assam.
- Annual production is targeted at 300 tonnes of freshwater fish.
- The project will cover sourcing, processing and cold-chain operations.
- Zappfresh expects direct sourcing to lower procurement costs.
- The partnership is the company’s second major aquaculture initiative.
