Food and beverages

Food and beverage sector (F&B Sector) has emerged in a new avatar with the consciousness and increasing awareness towards healthy food. The sector has witnessed spikes in innovation with focus on nutrition. F&B Sector comes within the purview of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) which is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The key legislations that govern this sector in India include Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) and attendant rules and regulations, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, Insecticide Act, 1968 and Essential Commodities Act, 1955 amongst others.

Agama provides end-to-end business legal solutions to businesses in the fast moving consumable goods (FMCG) and F&B Sector.

FBOs

Our team has in-depth regulatory and practical experience dealing with all F&B Sector related nuances. Agama advises Food Business Operators (FBOs), ready to eat foods manufacturing, packaging and selling companies, in respect of its operations, setting up kiosks, sectoral compliances, creating and mapping the statutory compliance program, retail expansion, food recall and food expiry advisories, general corporate advisory as well as advertising and media -related issues and other ASCI advisory. Agama also advises FBOs on documentation in relation to business expansion, distributor relationships and vendor relationships.

Tobacco and Hygiene

Agama also has working knowledge of tobacco and hygiene products sales industry encompassing manufacture and distribution. Agama team contribution to this industry includes structuring of distribution channel, managing warehousing, transportation and other such business-related arrangements through transaction specific and standardized system for such corporates.

Cloud Kitchens

Agama’s wide gamut of experience includes setting up of kiosks, dark kitchens, cloud kitchens and other delivery kitchens including assistance with obtaining licenses, registration, labelling, MRP related issues, discounts, offers, tie in arrangements, and requirements from regulatory authorities as well as drafting managing and negotiation of key contracts with IT integrators and other suppliers.

Franchise Agreements

Agama’s expertise includes franchise relationship development, assisting franchisor in identifying the structure and advising on creation of standard processes for expanding the franchise network.

Network

Agama through its pan-India presence provides advice on stamping and registration of documents in different states and remote locations as well as assists in procuring relevant licenses through network associates in such locations.

Disputes and Arbitration

We also provide dispute resolution, negotiation and pre-dispute advisory services in relation to managing distributors and vendor relations.

Agama advised its clients in arbitration for key ingredient supplier for beverages vis-à-vis their contractors. Agama has also successfully represented a client against a major FMCG conglomerate in receiving contractual amounts and other damages owed to it in respect of its bottling plant.