Mumbai’s Iconic Aarey Milk Brand Set To Make A Comeback; Here's How

Mumbai: Mumbai’s beloved dairy brand ‘Aarey’, once a household name and a symbol of post-Independence urban planning, is all set to return, this time without its original buffalo sheds or processing units. The Maharashtra government has decided to revive the Aarey brand by collaborating with milk cooperative Mahananda, which will now process and sell a portion of its milk under the Aarey label.

State dairy development secretary N Ramaswami confirmed the move, stating that Mahananda has been asked to begin processing Aarey milk at its Goregaon facility. “Mahananda currently handles 80,000 litres of milk daily. We’ve requested them to process an additional 25,000 litres exclusively for the Aarey brand,” stated Ramaswami, according to a Hindustan Times report.

Although Aarey is a state-owned brand, Mahananda, also under the state’s dairy development department until 2024, has now come under the administrative control of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), a central government entity. Mahananda operates from land in the Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon, originally allotted by the state.

About Aarey's Legacy Of 7 Decades

Aarey’s legacy dates back to 1949 when it was launched to tackle milk shortages in the city post-Independence. The state allotted a major area of forest land in Goregaon for buffalo sheds and dairy facilities, creating the Aarey Milk Colony. It eventually became the heart of Mumbai’s milk supply chain, bordering the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Film City.

In 1951, Aarey began expanding its range of products to include buttermilk, lassi, and the famous Energee flavoured milk. Aarey booths, once a common sight across the city, became go-to spots for Mumbaikars in need of a quick refreshment.

However, in 2012, the state outsourced Aarey’s production to private firms in exchange for royalty. This plan faltered over time, and by 2022, private companies had ceased production of all Aarey products. Meanwhile, milk processing at the state’s Kurla and Worli centres was discontinued, and their machinery sold off as scrap in 2023.

Kurla Dairy Plot Handed Over For Redevelopment Purpose

In a major shift of land use, the Kurla dairy plot was recently handed over to Navbharat Mega Developers Private Ltd (NMDPL) to accommodate relocated Dharavi slum-dwellers. The Worli dairy land is slated for redevelopment into an 'iconic structure' under a new government initiative.

Despite the infrastructural changes and urban realignment, the revival of Aarey milk through Mahananda marks a nostalgic return for a brand deeply rooted in Mumbai’s post-Independence story and urban memory.

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