Fonterra said 70 per cent of Indians were younger than 45, were digital-savvy, had disposable income, and wanted to consume higher quality and higher nutritional dairy products.

Indian consumers will soon be eating and drinking dairy products using Fonterra milk.

The dairy giant has signed a joint venture partnership with one of India's largest consumer companies, Future Consumer, to produce a range of consumer and foodservice products.

Fonterra first entered the Indian market in 2001 but the venture fell through. In recent years, exports of dairy products to the second-most populous nation have been scant.

The first products will be launched by the middle of 2019, using both locally sourced milk and dairy products from New Zealand.

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Fonterra's chief operating officer global consumer and foodservice Lukas Paravicini said the products would be similar to ones that were popular in India, but "with a twist".

He gave the examples of the fresh cheese paneer or the cultured butter ghee.

The partnership will be known as Fonterra Future Dairy Partners. Future Consumer has plans to launch 1100 stores this year. It is present in 26 of 31 Indian states with over 2000 modern trade outlets, 5000 public distribution outlets and a nationwide cold-chain network.

123RF In recent years, exports of dairy products to the second-most populous nation have been scant.

​Paravicini said 70 per cent of Indians were younger than 45, were digital-savvy, had disposable income, and wanted to consume higher quality and higher nutritional dairy products.

"Consumer demand for dairy in India over the next seven years is set to increase by 82 billion litres – seven times the forecasted growth for China," Paravicini said.

The time between now and the launch of the products would be used to "settle in the partnership infrastructure, learn the market and prioritise geographies".

Group chief executive officer, Future Group Sethi. Kishore Biyani, said the association with Fonterra came at a time when the dairy industry in India was flourishing, and consumption of milk and other dairy products was increasing.