Startup Originals Team
India’s iconic dairy brand Amul has created history by becoming the first FMCG company in the country to cross a ₹1 trillion (₹1 lakh crore) turnover in FY2025–26. The milestone reflects the strength of its cooperative model, wide distribution, and growing global presence.
If you’re tracking India’s biggest business milestones and what they mean for startups, brands, and investors, this is a landmark moment worth understanding.
Strong Growth Drives Historic Milestone
Amul reported around 11% growth year-on-year, driven by robust demand across both domestic and international markets. The total unduplicated revenue of the Amul brand rose from ₹90,000 crore in FY2024–25 to over ₹1 lakh crore in FY2025–26.
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the marketing arm of Amul, separately reported a sales turnover of ₹73,450 crore. That’s an 11.4% increase from ₹65,911 crore in the previous year, making it the largest FMCG organisation in India.
What makes this even more impressive is how a farmer-led organisation has scaled into a massive FMCG powerhouse without losing its core identity.
Rural Expansion Powers Domestic Growth
One of the biggest contributors to Amul’s success has been its aggressive expansion across India, especially in:
• Small towns with populations above 5,000
• Rural and semi-urban markets
• Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities that were previously under-served by organised dairy brands
According to GCMMF Managing Director Dr. Jayen Mehta, Amul’s domestic growth was powered by deep distribution penetration into smaller towns. This strategy significantly increased reach and consumption across regions that most FMCG companies had overlooked.
By strengthening its distribution network through its 18 member district cooperatives, Amul has built one of the most extensive last-mile delivery systems in India’s FMCG sector.
Global Push Into Europe and the US
Amul is no longer just an Indian brand. It is rapidly expanding internationally:
• The brand now has a presence in 50+ countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
• Fresh milk has been launched in the United States, Spain, and the European Union, targeting both the Indian diaspora and local consumers
• Plans are in place to expand into 10 more global markets within a year, with a focus on Africa and Southeast Asia
• In November 2025, Amul was ranked the No. 1 cooperative globally by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) World Cooperative Monitor
This global strategy is helping Amul tap into new demand and build international recognition. The brand is moving beyond traditional exports like ghee and paneer and is now competing with local dairy brands in developed markets.
Product Innovation Driving Sales
Amul’s growth is also supported by continuous product diversification. The brand now has a portfolio of more than 1,200 product packs, one of the widest in the global dairy industry.
Key innovation areas include:
• Protein-based products catering to India’s growing fitness segment
• Probiotic offerings targeting health-conscious consumers
• Organic dairy items for the premium market
• High-demand products like cheese, buttermilk, ice cream, and flavoured milk
To put the scale in perspective, Amul distributes more than 24 billion packs annually and procures 31 million litres of milk every single day. Very few FMCG companies in the world can match that kind of volume.
These value-added categories have played a major role in increasing revenue and margins while keeping core dairy products affordable for everyday consumers.
Understanding Amul’s ₹1 Lakh Crore Revenue Structure
While the overall brand turnover crossed ₹1 trillion, the revenue of GCMMF stood at ₹73,450 crore, up 11.4%. So a common question comes up: why the difference?
The answer lies in Amul’s unique cooperative structure:
• GCMMF’s revenue reflects only the products marketed directly by the federation
• Regional dairies in Gujarat, located in places like Valsad, Rajkot, Godhra, Surat, Vadodara, and Anand, sell milk and dairy products under the Amul brand but report their revenue independently
• Cattle feed turnover in Gujarat is also part of the Amul brand ecosystem but sits outside GCMMF’s books
• The ₹1 lakh crore figure represents the total unduplicated revenue across all entities operating under the Amul brand
This distributed cooperative structure is precisely what makes Amul unique. And it’s what makes this achievement even more remarkable.
The Power of the Cooperative Model
Amul’s success is rooted in its unique structure:
• 36 lakh (3.6 million) dairy farmers as direct stakeholders
• 31 million litres of milk procured daily from villages across India
• 18 member district cooperatives operating under the GCMMF umbrella
• Strong procurement, supply chain, and fair pricing at every level
• A new Multi-State Cooperative Federation that has been launched to bring village-level dairy cooperatives from outside Gujarat into a unified national network. Amul calls this the Second White Revolution.
GCMMF Chairman Ashokbhai Chaudhary stated that crossing the ₹1 lakh crore mark is a testament to the trust of millions of consumers and the dedication of Amul’s farming community. Vice Chairman Gordhanbhai Dhameliya called the milestone a definitive victory for the cooperative spirit.
This model has enabled both scale and sustainability, benefiting farmers while building a global brand.
What Should Startups and Businesses Take Away?
For entrepreneurs and investors watching India’s growth story, Amul’s milestone carries some important strategic signals:
• Rural-driven brands can scale to trillion-rupee levels. Growth doesn’t need to be urban-centric.
• Cooperatives can outperform corporate FMCG giants. Amul’s turnover now exceeds major listed competitors.
• Indian FMCG brands can compete globally. With fresh milk now in Europe and the US, Amul is building a truly international presence.
• Product diversification drives margin expansion. The shift towards value-added dairy is a replicable strategy for other FMCG players.
• Dairy-tech, cold chain logistics, and cooperative-model startups in this space will see increasing investor attention going forward.
India’s FMCG growth is expanding beyond urban markets, and startuporiginals.in will keep tracking what this means for founders and investors.
The Bottom Line
Amul’s journey from a farmer cooperative in Anand, Gujarat, to a ₹1 trillion brand is a powerful example of scale, trust, and execution. As it expands globally and diversifies further, the company is not just growing. It is redefining what an Indian FMCG brand can achieve.
Strong cooperatives build strong economies. And smart founders pay attention to where the growth is going.
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