Chatha Foods
Q1 FY25 Earnings Call Analysis
Food Products
fundraise: Yescapex: Yesrevenue: Category 1margin: Category 3orderbook: No information
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- The company plans to increase term loans by INR 12 crores to fund the vegetarian facility and related capex (Page 17).
- Recently raised INR 20 crores through preferential allotment, which has not yet been utilized and is earmarked purely for capex related to a joint venture with Allana (Page 9).
- Total debt exposure, including working capital, is expected to rise to around INR 29-30 crores due to these investments (Page 17).
- No mention of any equity fundraising plans beyond the preferential allotment noted.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- INR 12 crores term loan planned to fund new vegetarian facility capex.
- Recent preferential funds of INR 20 crores raised but not yet utilized; planned for capex in joint venture with Allana Sons for value-added meat and chicken products in Aurangabad.
- Shift vegetarian equipment to new vegetarian plant (50,000 sq. ft. building), freeing existing space to add 120 metric tons/month chicken capacity without additional capex.
- Additional 30,000 sq. ft. land available near veg plant for future expansion if needed.
- The JV with Allana Sons is a 70-30 partnership, indicating strategic investment in expanding value-added meat production.
- No current plans for capacity expansion in other geographic regions; focus is on optimizing existing capacity and new veg facility.
- Equipment sourced mainly from European suppliers (Germany, Poland, Austria), which are expensive, indicating quality investment.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- The company aims for a 4x revenue growth by FY 2028-29 compared to the current year.
- Growth will be driven primarily by the vegetarian (veg) business expansion and exports.
- Expansion plans include growing the veg business aggressively alongside continued focus on non-veg (chicken).
- Capacity is currently sufficient to support this revenue growth without immediate need for major additions.
- The veg facility, becoming operational majorly from FY ’27, is expected to contribute progressively to revenue.
- The company plans to increase pan-India penetration across both veg and non-veg segments, focusing on QSR and export markets.
- Intends to increase exports with partners like Alana for both veg and meat products.
- Incremental capacity expansions feasible within existing plants, including a 120 MT/month increase in chicken capacity without extra CAPEX.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- The company aims for a 4x revenue growth by FY28-29 compared to FY25, driven by expansion in both veg and non-veg segments.
- Capacity expansion is planned but current capacities are sufficient to handle this growth without immediate need for major capex.
- Margins in the vegetarian segment are expected to be better due to lower input costs despite lower realizations compared to chicken.
- Export business, especially for vegetarian products, is targeted aggressively to increase footprint beyond India.
- Working capital cycles are managed prudently to support growth, with inventory at ~30 days, debtor days ~40-45, and creditor days ~25.
- Debt is expected to increase by around INR12 crores for investments, supporting future expansion and capex.
- Capacity utilization for chicken can reach 100% at 500 MT/month; veg segment can easily run double or triple shifts for further expansion.
- Overall, the company is optimistic about strong earnings growth driven by product mix, capacity utilization, and expansion into new markets.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
- The transcript does not explicitly mention the current or expected orderbook or pending orders in specific numbers.
- However, it is noted that the company is actively engaged in dialogues with various customers, particularly for the new vegetarian facility, though contracts will only be finalized after audits and approvals.
- The vegetarian facility is expected to start contributing 10% to 15% capacity in FY26 and more substantially from FY27 onwards.
- The company has onboarding processes with new clients, involving product development and store trials that typically take 3 to 6 months before commercial contracts are finalized.
- They continue to acquire new QSR clients and maintain multi-vendor policies, implying ongoing business development efforts but with no detailed orderbook data disclosed.
