Indore's Milk Demand Surges Amid Wedding Season and Institutional Orders

Indore is experiencing an unprecedented surge in milk demand, with daily consumption surpassing 12 lakh litres. This is attributed to an unusually busy wedding calendar and increased institutional orders. Despite the flush season, which generally boosts supply, the city has almost no surplus milk.

The Indore Dugdh Vikreta Sangh reports that the total milk collection in the city has climbed to approximately 13 lakh litres per day. Bharat Mathurawala, president of the Sangh, stated, “Every caterer and hotel is asking for extra milk, paneer, and cream.” Typically, surplus milk is sent outside Indore during the flush season, but now it is consumed locally.

Packaged milk sales have seen a rise, led by the brand Sanchi. Dairy processors are also witnessing a significant increase in demand for products such as paneer, khoa, ghee, and other variants used in sweet-making. This increased demand is driven by large banquet functions, community events, and festive gatherings.

Institutional buyers, including hostels and educational trusts, have increased their milk consumption by nearly 20%, leading suppliers to request advance confirmations. Amit Verma, a supplier to a local education trust, noted, “We are stretched due to wedding-related demand and need prior notice to manage supply.”

With the peak wedding season still in progress, local dairy operators anticipate that the tight supply-demand balance will persist, keeping Indore's milk market unusually active.