Karnataka's Nandini sharply hikes ghee, butter prices days after milk price rise

A week after making milk and curd costlier, Karnataka's Nandini brand has delivered another blow to consumers, with the prices of ghee, butter and paneer also going up across the state.Among the steepest increases is that of Nandini ghee. A one-litre sachet, which earlier cost Rs 715, will now set consumers back by Rs 850. The price of a one-kg pack of paneer has also jumped from Rs 408 to Rs 485, while 500 grams of unsalted butter will now cost Rs 390, against the earlier price of Rs 285.The revised rates, announced by the Bengaluru Milk Union, came into effect on November 4.The price revision comes a day after dairy major Amul increased the prices of select ghee and butter products, citing a surge in festive demand and reported supply shortages in several markets. According to a circular issued by Bengaluru Milk Union on Wednesday, the revised maximum retail prices (MRP) apply to different pack sizes of ghee, butter and paneer.A 200-ml sachet of Nandini ghee will now cost Rs 95, while the 500-ml pack has been priced at Rs 425. Ghee sold in PET jars will cost Rs 65 for 50 ml, Rs 100 for 100 ml, Rs 180 for 200 ml, Rs 435 for 500 ml and Rs 870 for one litre. The five-litre pack will retail at Rs 4,250. The one-litre ghee tin will cost Rs 870, while the 15-kg tin has been priced at Rs 14,100.Butter prices have also seen a significant revision. Salted butter will cost Rs 90 for 100 grams and Rs 380 for 500 grams. The 200-gram pack of unsalted butter has been priced at Rs 160, while its 500-gram pack will cost Rs 390.The family pack will be available for Rs 90, while the 10-gram blister pack has been priced at Rs 900 per kg.Nandini paneer will now cost Rs 115 for 200 grams, Rs 260 for 500 grams and Rs 485 for one kg. The 200-gram pack of medium-fat paneer will retail at Rs 110.Trupti milk, meanwhile, has also been included in the revision, with the 135-ml pack priced at Rs 11 and the 450-ml pack at Rs 33.SERIES OF PRICE REVISIONS BY NANDINIThe latest revision follows the Karnataka Milk Federation's (KMF) decision to increase Nandini milk prices by Rs 8 per litre and curd prices by Rs 14 per litre. These rates had come into effect on November 1.The hike has drawn criticism from the Opposition, with the BJP women's wing staging a protest at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Monday, demanding that the Congress government roll back the increase. Similar demonstrations were reported in other parts of the state.Shivakumar defended the milk price hike, saying it would benefit nearly 11 lakh farmer families, while also announcing that the KMF had agreed to reduce curd prices by Rs 2 per litre."I have suggested to them (KMF office-bearers) to reduce the curd prices, they have agreed to reduce it by Rs 2 per litre," Shivakumar said.He argued that the milk price revision was necessary to support dairy farmers and pointed out that milk was being diverted to other states where prices were higher."Following this increase, I'm told that about 10 lakh litres have started coming back to us," he said, adding that there had been demands for a Rs 12-per-litre increase.However, it was quite a brief respite for consumers. Barely two days after Shivakumar’s announcement, Nandini again sharply increased the rates of ghee, butter and paneer across Karnataka on November 4.AMUL ALSO RAISES GHEE, BUTTER PRICESThe Nandini price revision comes amid a similar move by Amul, which increased the prices of select ghee and butter products on Tuesday.The price of a one-kg carton of Amul ghee has gone up from Rs 640 to Rs 680, while its 500-gram pouch now costs Rs 345, against the earlier Rs 325.Amul cow ghee has also become costlier, with the 500-ml pouch rising from Rs 350 to Rs 370 and the one-litre pack from Rs 695 to Rs 735.Butter prices have been revised as well. The 100-gram pack now costs Rs 66, up from Rs 63, while the 500-gram pack has become costlier by Rs 15, with its price increasing from Rs 310 to- Ends