SRINAGAR: Khyber Aquaculture has secured a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence for its facility at Chak Akhal in Kangan, Ganderbal, paving the way for the launch of packaged Himalayan trout products and the opening of its first branded retail outlet in Srinagar.
The company, which operates an integrated trout farming and processing facility using Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology, said on Tuesday that it was preparing to expand into retail, distribution and the hotel, restaurant and catering (HoReCa) sectors.
The licence covers the manufacture, trade and retail of fish and fish products, providing the regulatory basis for the company to advance its processing, packaging, storage and distribution operations, as applicable.
Yunus Trumboo, director of Khyber Aquaculture, said the approval marked a step towards bringing its farmed trout to a wider consumer market. He said the company planned to use Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), which involves a controlled mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen to help extend the freshness of the products.
The initial product range will include boneless, skin-on portion cuts, Supreme Fillets and trout steaks in fresh, chilled and frozen formats. The company plans to introduce ready-to-cook curry cuts, sushi and sashimi products in subsequent phases.
For hotels, restaurants and catering businesses, the company intends to supply larger packs suited to professional kitchens, including a 3.2 kg pack of Supreme Fillets containing four pieces.
According to the company, its chilled products will have a shelf life of five to eight days, while frozen products can be stored for up to 12 months, subject to prescribed storage and handling conditions.
The processing facility has a current capacity of up to 10 tonnes a day, while the company’s annual production capacity stands at 1,200 metric tonnes. It plans to increase annual capacity to 7,000 metric tonnes.
The FSSAI approval comes ahead of the planned opening of the company’s first branded retail store at Karan Nagar in Srinagar. The outlet will offer live trout, fresh fish and packaged products in chilled and frozen formats. Customers will also be able to select live trout for cleaning, cutting and packing at the store, Trumboo said.
The company plans to expand its distribution network across Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi-NCR and other markets in northern India, using modern retail, HoReCa and direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.
It is also working towards obtaining Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification, which it said would support its plans to enter international markets.
Founded in 2022, Khyber Aquaculture is part of the Khyber Group, a Jammu and Kashmir-based business conglomerate with interests in hospitality, cement, real estate, healthcare and aquaculture.
