LT Foods has officially partnered with KidZania India to launch an immersive Daawat Factory experience, creating a first-of-its-kind educational center designed to engage children aged 4 to 14 years in learning about basmati rice production processes through interactive, hands-on activities.

Partnership Details and Program Structure

The collaboration between the leading billion-dollar global FMCG company and KidZania India, the country's largest indoor edutainment theme park, introduces children to the complete journey of basmati rice from farm to fork. The 25-minute engagement program allows participants to assume the role of Production Engineers, working in teams to navigate the full processing line.

Comprehensive Learning Experience

Children participating in the Daawat Factory experience engage with various stages of basmati rice production, including paddy procurement, pre-cleaning, ageing, de-husking, de-stoning, color sorting, and final packaging. Participants operate machinery, make quality judgment calls, and understand the responsibility behind every packet of basmati rice production.

Upon completing their shift, children receive a 200g pack of Daawat Basmati along with a digital certificate of achievement, serving as tangible recognition of their hands-on journey as certified Production Engineers.

Executive Leadership Perspectives

Ashwani Arora, Managing Director & CEO of LT Foods, emphasized the company's commitment to fostering deeper connections between consumers and food products. He highlighted how the collaboration creates meaningful experiences for young audiences while instilling values of quality, innovation, and responsibility from an early age.

Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman of KidZania India, noted that the Daawat Factory establishment brings to life the journey of a product central to every Indian household, creating deeper understanding and meaningful engagement for children and families while strengthening long-term brand affinity.

Strategic Industry Impact

This initiative represents LT Foods' innovative approach to consumer engagement, particularly targeting younger demographics through experiential learning. The partnership leverages KidZania's proven edutainment model, where children learn through role-play activities in safe and engaging environments.

The program connects a product found in nearly every Indian kitchen with the science, precision, and care involved in its creation, aspects typically unseen by consumers. This educational approach positions LT Foods as a forward-thinking company investing in community engagement while promoting understanding of traditional agricultural practices and modern food production methods.

LT Foods has announced the appointment of Ritesh Sud as Chief Marketing Officer for India & Far East, reinforcing its strategic focus on brand-led growth and consumer-centric transformation. The appointment, announced on April 16, 2026, positions Sud to lead marketing initiatives across key growth markets.

Leadership Appointment Details

The strategic appointment brings extensive FMCG expertise to LT Foods' marketing division:

Professional Background and Experience

Sud brings over two decades of diverse FMCG experience, having successfully led iconic Indian brands including Tata Tea, Himalayan, Happydent, Centre Fruit, and Alpenliebe Just Jelly. At Tata Consumer Products, he played a pivotal role in driving portfolio growth and championed award-winning, industry-first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led campaigns.

Prior to Tata Consumer Products, Sud served as Associate Director – Marketing with Perfetti Van Melle, where he managed and scaled several confectionery brands. His notable contribution includes the national launch of Alpenliebe Just Jelly and helping create the jelly candy category.

Strategic Mandate and Responsibilities

In his new role, Sud will focus on several key areas to drive LT Foods' growth strategy:

Leadership Perspectives

Ritesh Arora, CEO – India & Far East at LT Foods, emphasized the strategic timing of the appointment: "His appointment comes at a pivotal time in our growth journey as we continue to further sharpen our consumer focus and scale our brands across key markets. His rich experience in building purpose-led brands, coupled with his strong understanding of digital-first and innovative brands, will play a critical role in strengthening our marketing capabilities."

Sud expressed his commitment to the new role, stating: "My joining comes at a time when LT Foods is well-positioned to capitalise on emerging opportunities across categories and markets. The priority will be to align brand strategy closely with business outcomes, drive execution excellence, and create sustained momentum across key growth drivers."