DFM FOODS LTD (BSE CODE -519588) - BUY

In a country like India with huge population and increasing

disposable income , scope of companies from food processing

sector is very vast,especially those with good brands.But,

unfortunately many such brands are owned by unlisted

players or high priced MNC’s . Only very few companies

developed niche market and established their own brands

and growing handsomely. DFM Foods is one of such company

which is a dominant regional market player in snacks foods

sector. DFM is promoted by Delhi Flour Mills and had two

divisions till last year – Wheat storage Business and Snack

Foods Business. From last year onwards DFM discontinued

the low margin wheat storage business and now concentrating

only in snack foods division.Its brands  CRAX,NATKHAT,

WIZZ ..etc are popular in northern part of India.Last year

company expanded its capacity at a cost of Rs.13 Crore and

due to huge demand for its products now again planning to

expand the capacity further. Company is also taking steps to

make it a Pan India brand in few years from now.In last

financial year DFM’s snack foods division shows a growth

of 35% in turnover(Total turnover was less due to

discontinuation of wheat storage business).Net profit also

sharply improved from Rs.1.99 Cr to Rs.4.21 Cr backed by

better margins from snack foods division. In the first

qtr of this financial year(June qtr) company shows an increase

of 50% in its sales from Rs.13 Cr to Rs.20 Cr .With increasing

urbanization and changing life styles,demand for snacks

foods are expected to rise sharply and on the other side the

expected record production of wheat will reduce the pressure

of raw material cost which will help the company to record

better performance going forward. Earlier, company had an

image of a wheat trader and enjoyed only low valuation due

to the image of a trading company. But now it is a pure

FMCG/food processing like play and it should be re-rated

accordingly. There is good scope for appreciation from

current level of Rs.48/- 

* I have earlier mentioned DFM in MMB in Nov.2009