PRAN-RFL Group, one of Bangladesh’s leading business conglomerates, has announced a significant expansion into the essential goods market, launching production of key items like flour, animal feed, and pulses. With an initial investment of Tk750 crore, the group has set up a state-of-the-art industrial park at Kaliganj in Gazipur, positioning itself as a key player in the country’s consumer goods sector.
The new facility, called the Kaliganj Economic Zone (KEZ), spans 180 bighas of land. According to company officials, two to three production floors are already operating at full capacity, with further machinery installations and ongoing construction aimed at expanding operations. So far, around 900 people have been employed, with plans to grow the workforce to 3,000 as the park reaches full operational capacity. Initial production includes 500 tonnes of flour, refined flour, and semolina daily, meeting increasing demand from both commercial and household consumers.
In an exclusive statement, PRAN Group’s Managing Director, Eleash Mridha, highlighted the range of products to be manufactured at the KEZ, including flour, edible oil, seed-crushing products, lentils, salt, starch, spices, beverages, noodles, biscuits, and poultry feed. “We have invested heavily in advanced technology to maintain the highest standards across our product range,” Mridha stated, underscoring the company’s commitment to high-quality essentials for the Bangladeshi market.
PRAN’s ten-story flour mill, a focal point of the KEZ, is equipped with cutting-edge European technology, automating everything from raw material unloading to product packaging. Executive Director Naser Ahmed noted that PRAN is sourcing high-protein wheat from the USA, Canada, Russia, and Ukraine to ensure premium quality flour. The group also plans to support local agriculture by procuring wheat from regions such as Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh, boosting both quality and sustainability.
The company has already begun supplying 50 kg bags of flour to wholesalers and retailers, with smaller, consumer-friendly packaging options in one- and two-kg sizes under trial. PRAN-branded flour products are expected to reach stores nationwide in the coming months, catering to an industry valued at around Tk20,000 crore and growing at an annual rate of 8-10%. Industry insiders estimate that about 75% of Bangladesh’s flour demand comes from businesses and restaurants, while households account for the remaining 25%.
With additional investments in high-capacity silos and a fully automated production process, PRAN is poised to enhance both efficiency and quality. According to Ahmed, the mill’s laboratory facilities ensure that each batch meets stringent nutritional standards, with products in high demand from the restaurant and bakery industries as well as for home cooking.
This expansion comes as Bangladesh’s consumer goods market continues to grow. A recent HSBC Global Research report projects that Bangladesh will become the ninth-largest consumer market in the world by 2030, surpassing the UK and Germany, a milestone that places increased demand on domestic production and innovation in essential goods.
For more updates, follow Markedium.
Leave a comment