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The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is set to widen the reach of its Nandini dairy brand in Bengaluru with 120 new milk parlours across the city, The Hindu reported. Thirty of these will come up outside Metro stations, and the remaining 90 will be set up at civic amenity locations within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits.
The expansion follows last year’s dispute over Amul kiosks at Namma Metro stations. It is part of KMF’s push to place Nandini products in busy, high-footfall areas where commuters can easily pick up daily essentials.
Outlets outside, not inside, Metro stations
According to a senior KMF official quoted by The Hindu, the federation held several rounds of talks with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) before it was allowed to set up the 30 parlours.
Unlike Amul’s kiosks, which were placed inside station premises, the Nandini outlets will operate just outside the stations. KMF has no plans for kiosks within Metro premises under the current arrangement. The federation sees these locations as a way to reach the steady stream of commuters who buy everyday items such as milk and paneer.
The Amul row that set the stage
In June 2025, Amul opened kiosks at the Benniganahalli and Baiyappanahalli Metro stations. Kannada activists protested the move, and KMF, dairy farmers and the Janata Dal (Secular) also criticised it.
Amul had signed an agreement with BMRCL to open more such kiosks across the network. The matter turned political when Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah suggested the two dairy brands could work together. The Karnataka government then pressed for Nandini to get a presence at Metro locations, and then deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar directed KMF to seek space from BMRCL.
90 more parlours planned across the city
Beyond the Metro-linked outlets, KMF has received approval to open around 90 Nandini parlours at civic amenity sites within GBA limits. The exact locations have not yet been finalised.
Nandini’s existing network
Karnataka currently has over 3,000 Nandini milk parlours, about 1,500 of them in Bengaluru. These outlets sell milk, paneer, ice cream, sweets and beverages.
What it means
The 120 new parlours give KMF another retail channel in the state capital. By focusing on spots with steady daily footfall, the federation aims to strengthen Nandini’s position in the city’s competitive dairy market.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
