Bangladesh has significant potential for agro-food processing due to available raw materials from agriculture. There are over 250 food processing companies in Bangladesh exporting products like spices, snacks, juices. The top companies include PRAN, ACI, and Square which export to over 100 countries. Challenges include non-tariff barriers, lack of storage and technology, but agro-food exports have increased significantly in recent years reaching $371 million in 2017-2018.

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AVAILABLE AGRO-PROCESSED PRODUCTS IN BANGLADESH
1. Introduction:
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agro-
processing involves the transformation of products originating from
agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Agro-food processing involves primary and
secondary processing. The former is associated with processing of agricultural
products in their basic form and the latter requires conversion into final
products like jams, biscuits etc. The primary inputs for the industry include
crops, poultry and livestock, fishery and some forestry products. Since
Bangladesh is an agricultural country, the opportunity is unlimited in tapping
the export potentiality due to availability of the raw materials in our country.
Bringing a solution to post harvest losses, agro-processing industry has
opened a new avenue for the Bangladesh in the field of export earnings.
According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data compiled by Bangladesh
Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA), in the fiscal year 2017-18 Bangladesh
earned $371 million, up by 40.72%, which was $263.63 million the previous
year by exporting agro-processed food.
2. Food processing companies in Bangladesh:
Food industries in Bangladesh have been developed rapidly in recent years.
There are several agro in Bangladesh with PRAN being the largest. According
to Bangladesh Agro Processors Association (BAPA), there are around 250
processors however the list in not exhaustive as there are other processors
who are not members of the association. These processors produce a range of
items and sell their products both nationally and internationally. Export
destinations are primarily countries with large Bengali diaspora. The
processors are mostly engaged in processing of food products for which there
is a proven market; import trends and the significance of the local informal
processing are used as indicators to test the market potential.
The famous Companies like PRAN, SQUARE, ACI are exporting dissimilar food
products and frozen food profitably in many countries around the globe.

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These Food Companies are taking food industries of Bangladesh into a new
height. Food Companies of Bangladesh are meeting global standards in
quality, taste, and process of food manufacture. Here we have listed the top
most well-known food and beverage companies in Bangladesh.
List of most popular food processing companies currently active in
Bangladesh:
Sl.
NO.
Name of the Company Nature of Business Types of products
01 PRAN Foods Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Jam, Jell, Pickle, Bar, juice,
Sauce, Spices etc.
02 ACI Foods Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Basic spices, Mixed spices,
cereal, Oil
03 Square Food & Beverage
Ltd. (SFBL)
Manufacturer-
Exporter
Basic spices, Ready mix, Pulse
& cereal, Edible oil
04 BD foods Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Jam, Jelly, Sauce, Spices, Pickle
etc.
05 Ahmed food products Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Juice, Jam, Jelly, Pickle, Bar,
Spices etc.
06 Cocola food products Ltd. Manufacturer Fruit gel, Juice, Pickle, Fruit
candy etc.
07 Nicobena - Food and drinks
company Ltd.
Manufacturer Juice, Jam, Jelly, Pickle
08 City group Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Spices powder, rice, pickle,
mustard oil
09 Meghna Group Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Spices powder, rice, Pulse, oil
etc
10 Sajeeb Grouop Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Fruit drink, Jam, Jelly, Sauce
etc.
11 Danish food Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Spices, Candy ,Edible oil etc.
12 Prome agro food Ltd. Manufacturer-
Exporter
Spices, Jell, Pickle etc.
13 Golden harvest food Ltd Manufacturer Frozen vegetable
14 Mashud agro processing and
food products Ltd.
Manufacturer Frozen vegetables, spices,
15 IFAD Multi Products Ltd. Manufacturer-
exporter
Flour, Spices, oil, Pickle
16 MT agro food products Manufacturer-
exporter
All kinds of spices
17 Maa agro foods products Manufacturer Spices

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18 Eurocross frozen foods (bd)
ltd
Manufacturer-
exporter
Frozen vegetables
19 Bangladesh food export co. Exporter Frozen vegetables
20 Romania agro-vet Ltd. Manufacturer Agro products
21 Chittagong foods and
vegetables
Manufacturer Species, pickle
22 Bikram pur potato flakes
industries Ltd.
Manufacturer Potato flakes
Source: BANGLADESH AGRO-PROCESSORS’ASSOCIATION (BAPA). List of active member of BAPA (date:
31.01.2019)
2.1. PRAN Foods Ltd.
PRAN was born in the year 1981. A successful period of 5 years led to the
diversification of PRAN’s operations into agriculture in 1986 through contract
farming, with the coordination of AMCL (Agriculture Marketing Company
Limited).PRAN further cemented its place in the industry through a food
processing plant at Ghorashal in 1992. Coming through this period of
endeavor, PRAN has now established itself as one of the top manufacturing
companies and has set the grounds for development for any potentialities.
Vision: Improving Livelihood
Mission: Poverty & hunger are curses. Our aim is to generate employment
and earn dignity & self-respect for our compatriots through profitable
enterprises.
Product list:
Type of the product Name of the product
Fruit drink(juice)
(Produced in 3 factories situated in different
locations and 16 depots to carry out the
production and distribution movements.)
Fruitix, PRAN Mango Fruit Drink,
FruitFun Mango Fruit Drink, PRAN Joy
Mango Drink, PRAN Junior Mixed Fruit
Drink, PRAN Junior Fruit Drink, Latina
Apple
Jam & Jelly
(PRAN jam & jelly are processed from the
locally sourced fresh fruits for breakfast
tables around the world. These are
preferred by children which comes in
different flavors such as mango, apple etc.)
Apple Jelly, Canton Orange Marmalade,
PRAN Mango Jam, PRAN Mixed Fruit
Jam, PRAN Orange Jelly, PRAN
Pineapple Jam

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Type of the product Name of the product
Sauce PRAN Hot Tomato Sauce, The Chef Hot Tomato
Sauce
Spices & Herbs PRAN Garlic Powder, PRAN Ginger Powder,
PRAN Cumin Powder, PRAN Corn Flour Powder,
PRAN Custard Powder, PRAN Jeera Powder,
PRAN Chilli Powder, PRAN Garlic Paste, PRAN
Ginger Paste, PRAN Turmeric Powder, PRAN
Coriander Powder, PRAN Black Pepper Powder,
PRAN Curry Powder, PRAN Meat Masala.
Source: https://www.pranfoods.net
National and International frontier: Along with 16 factories in
Bangladesh, PRAN has an industrial unit in India and new units are going to be
opened in Nepal and UAE. It has got full-fledged offices, warehouse,
distribution vehicles and sales force with dedicated support in India, Malaysia,
UAE, KSA, Oman, Qatar, Ghana, USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, and Singapore.
With a dedicated team of 1500 people for global sales, PRAN is
enthusiastically aggressive to penetrate the international market and carries
the name to represent the company as the flagship food brand of Bangladesh.
Over 150% export growth proves demand for different PRAN products are
growing gradually around the world especially for the packaged agro foods
and drinks along with confectionary and snack items. Export region include
110 Countries 5 Geographic Region: SE Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and
North America.
2.2. ACI Foods Ltd.
Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) Limited is one of the leading
conglomerates in Bangladesh, with a multinational heritage. They have a
mission to achieve business excellence through quality by understanding,
accepting, meeting and exceeding customer expectations. We follow
International Standards on Quality Management System to ensure consistent
quality of products and services to achieve customer satisfaction.

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Mission: ACI's Mission is to enrich the quality of life of the people through
responsible application of knowledge, technology and skills. ACI is committed
to the pursuit of excellence through world-class products, innovative
processes and empowered employees, to provide the highest level of
satisfaction to our customers.
Vision:
o Provide products and services of high and consistent quality, ensuring
value for money to our customers.
o Endeavour to attain a position of leadership in each category of our
businesses.
o Develop our employees by encouraging empowerment and rewarding
innovation..
o Attain a high level of productivity in all our operations through effective
utilisation of resources and adoption of appropriate technology.
o Promote inclusive growth by encouraging and assisting our distributors
and suppliers in improving efficiency.
o Ensure superior return on investment through judicious use of
resources and efficient operations, utilising our core competencies.
Product list:
Type of the product Name of the product
Juice Fun Fruitz Mango juice
PURE Spice Cumin Powder, Chilli Powder, Turmeric
Powder, Coriander Powder,
FUN candy Litchi Candy, Mango Candy, Tetul Candy
FUN chutney Mango Chutney, Mixed Fruit Chutney, Tetul
Chutney, Boroi Chutney
FUN Fried Snacks Fried Dal, Fried Peas,
Source: https://www.aci-bd.com
International Operation: After assuring its credentials in the food
industry of the country, ACI Limited began spreading its wings toward greater
interaction, integration and interdependence among people and organization
across borders with trust on becoming a global player in the international
market. ACI Limited started exporting food product in 1999. The quality of
ACI products, strengthened by its ISO 9001 certification, has brought
immediate success in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and Yemen.

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2.3. Square Food & Beverage Ltd.
Square has started its journey in 2000 as a member of Square Group, the
leading corporate house in Bangladesh. Within a short span of time, it has
been able to create a strong foothold in the market through its quality
products and customer services. For its obsession with quality management,
the company had obtained the international quality standard ISO 9001 in
2005.The company has introduced four popular brands in the market namely
Radhuni, Ruchi, Chashi and Chopstick.
Mission: The company want to be the world-class food products
manufacturer in Bangladesh by ensuring intrinsic quality products and
customer services with state-of-the-art technology and motivated employees.
Objectives:
o To continue to provide the very best of what the consumer wants
o To explore new segments of market and to cater to it
o To continue to assure intrinsic quality of hygienic food products
o To enhance consumers' standard of food habit
o To ensure that the products are available at consumers' doorsteps
o To enhance the strength and skill of the organization that will
contribute to company's increasing growth both in domestic and global
markets
Product list:
Type of the product Name of the product
Ruchi Chutney Olive Chutney, Mango Chutney, Tamarind
Chutney, Boroi Chutney, Mixed Chutney
Ruchi Jam Ruchi Orange Jam, Ruchi Mixed Fruit Jam
Ruchi Pickle Mango Pickle, Olive Pickle, Mixed Pickle,
Garlic Pickle, Chalta Pickle.
Ruchi Sauce Tamarind Sauce, Red Chilli Sauce, Tomato
Ketchup, Hot Tomato Sauce.
Radhuni spices Radhuni Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder,
Cumin Powder, Hathazari Powder, Turmeric
Powder, Kasundi.
Source: https://www.sfbl.com.bd

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National and global presence: Square Food & Beverage Limited is
strengthening its export operations to become a high performing global player
by supplying quality food products at reasonable price. Its products comply
with international phyto-sanitary requirements. Starting its first export to
South Korea in 2002, the company is currently exporting the products with
international standards in 30 countries around the world which includes
Australia, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Global market Retail Network in Bangladesh
2.4. BD foods Ltd.
BD Foods Ltd is a leading Bangladeshi agricultural food producing company
offering healthy, nutritious and hygienic products. They are committed to
harnessing the best agro-based resources of Bangladesh from genuine
growers at a fair price. Our purpose is to consistently improve the choice of
consumers with the most captivating food products from Bangladesh.
Vision & mission: Quality, reliability and consumer satisfaction are the
cornerstones of our business. BD Foods Ltd consistently excels in compliance
with both domestic and international regulations of food safety and hygiene.
Ensure that the highest standards of hygiene and nutritional safety are taken
care of throughout the processes of procurement, storage, processing,
packaging, transportation and distribution so that products are in a premium
condition when received by our consumers.

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Product list:
Type of the product Name of the product
BD Pickles & chutneys Mango Pickle, Olive Pickle, Mixed Pickle, Garlic
Pickle, Satkora Pickle, Baukul Pickle, Tamarind
Chutney, Mango Chutney, Boroi Chutney, Mixed
Fruit Chutney, Olive Chutney, Amloki Chutney.
BD Jam, jelly & sauce Pineapple jam, Mango Jam, Mixed Fruit Jam,
Orange Jelly, Tomato Sauce, Tamarind Sauce,
Chilli Sauce, Green Chilli Sauce, Soya Sauce,
Mango Bar.
BD Spices Turmeric powder, Chilli Powder, Coriander
Powder, Cumin Powder, Curry powder, Garam
Masala, Panchforon
BD Snacks Fried Peanut, fried dal, Fried peas, chick peas
Source: bdfoods.com.bd
Export: BD foods have sale centres in USA, UK, Italy, UAE and Australia.
2.5. Ahmed Foods Product Ltd.
Since the beginning, Ahmed Food has started with only four categories of
products which are Jam, Jelly, Pickle and Sauce with a very small product line.
In fact it is the first recognized food industry in private sector in Bangladesh.
As the company gained acceptance from the consumers through its superior
quality, the company had grown tremendously being a pioneer. The company
was the first authorized producer of Diabetic Food Products that are Sugar
Free,
Vision & mission: Ahmed Food’s main vision is to never compromise with
quality, towards maintaining the position of market leader and sustaining it
and then reach to the global market. Ahmed Food dedicates its perpetual life
to serve the mankind by providing them with the best possible food as it is the
primary necessity of mankind and it is for the kind acceptance of people that
Ahmed has come so far.

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Products list:
Source: https://www.ahmedfood.com
3. Scope of agro-food processing in Bangladesh:
 Bangladesh is an agricultural country and agriculture sector is the single
largest contributor to GDP.
 Crop production system is highly labor intensive and there is an
abundance of labor in the country.
 Agro-food processing sector is the largest source of employment for
skilled and unskilled labor.
 Favorable natural environment generally exists throughout the year for
crop production in our country.
 Agricultural commodities are the main sources of nutrition including
protein, minerals and vitamins
 Agricultural commodities have comparatively higher value addition.
 As there is limitation in storage of fresh product so processing of
products minimize loss of agricultural produce.
 Handling of processed product is easy than fresh products.
 Earn foreign currency by exporting processed agro-product.
Type of the product Name of the product
Jelly Orange jelly, Pineapple jelly, Guava jelly,
Mixed fruit jelly.
Diabetic Jelly Diabetic guava jelly, Diabetic apple jelly,
Diabetic orange jelly.
Jam Apple jam, Mango jam, Pineapple jam, Mixed
fruit jam.
Sauce Tomato ketchup, Chili sauce, Garlic sauce,
Soya sauce, Tomato sauce, Green chili,
Tamarind sauce.
Pickles Lemon pickle, Amla pickle, Mango pickle,
Chili pickle, Olive pickle, Satkora pickle,
Mixed pickle.
Spices Ginger powder, Garlic powder, Chili powder,
Turmeric powder.
Paste Garlic paste, Ginger paste.

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4. Challenge of agro-food processing in Bangladesh:
Challenges include non-tariff barriers in exporting goods to our neighboring
countries, lack of post harvesting storage capacity, lack of capital, lack of
modern technology, lack of government facilities in this sector.
Non-tariff barriers are the great challenge for Bangladesh with neighbor
countries such as India and Nepal. Bangladesh government has to move for
bilateral talks to remove this through negotiation and agreements.”
Since Bangladesh does not have the testing lab facilities for getting recognition
to enter into the global markets, it is another big challenge to meet the
international standard requirement It takes time and spends a lot of money to
get testing certification from other countries. So, the government has to
ensure lab testing facilities to the processors, he added.
5. Current status of Export of Agro-Processed Products:
At present the export value of the agro-processed products by Bangladesh
Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) members is 371 Mill US$ in 2017-2018
and the value of Agricultural Products is 673.7 Mill US$ in 2016-2017 (source
EPB). This value was 12.31 Mill US$ in 2005-2006 from that present export is
comparatively more and the export of agro-processed products is being
increased in every year. This credit goes to the agro processing sector and the
country.
Major agro processed food exported
country
Exported agro processed product

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6. Conclusion:
The food industry is an exceedingly productive and stable industry. Food is a
fundamental need of each human being consequently making it an inelastic
product for all purchasers, in this way, unmistakably this industry will
undoubtedly wind up terminated rather develop.
This is the time for developing the agro-processing sector in the country for
processing the surplus crops after consumption, establishing many agro-
processing industries throughout the country, vast employment of the
unemployed educated person and with a view to graduating Bangladesh
Middle Income Country. The agriculture sector is the single largest
contributor to income and employment generation and a vital element in the
country’s challenge to achieve self-sufficiency in food production reduce rural
poverty and foster sustainable economic development. The Government has
therefore accorded highest priority to this sector to enable the country to
meet these challenges and to make this sector commercially profitable.
7. References:
https://www.pranfoods.net
https://www.aci-bd.com
https://www.sfbl.com.bd
https://www.ahmedfood.com
bdfoods.com.bd
http://www.bapabd.org/
Agro‐processed industry in Bangladesh. (n.d.). 1st ed. [ebook] Dhaka.
Available at: http://www.hortex.org/Employment%20and%20GDP
Agroprocessed_171113.pdf