Karnataka’s dairy market has got a new competitor after Nandini Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) popular brand — hiked curd prices from November 1, 2026. The steep hike was criticised by consumers, hotels and political leaders and partially rolled back. Amul’s comparatively cheaper curd packs have also caught the fancy of Karnataka consumers.
The changes have sharpened competition between the two biggest dairy brands and affordability has become a key issue for households and businesses.
Nandini Increases Curd Prices From November 1
Nandini had revised curd prices from 1 November 2026 onwards. Under new rates the price of a one litre curd pack went up from ₹54 to ₹68 and that of a 500 gram pack rose from ₹28 to ₹34.
The move came after Karnataka Cabinet approved a milk price hike to increase payments to dairy farmers. The government said rising input costs (cattle feed and other production expenses) were the reasons for the decision.
However, sharp rise in curd prices made life difficult for consumers who buy dairy products on a regular basis. Hotels and restaurants which rely heavily on curd for their daily business also expressed concern over additional expenses.
DK Shivakumar Announces Partial Price Rollback
The price hike was met with public criticism and government stepped in. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on November 2 that KMF had agreed to a partial reduction of ₹2 per litre in the revised curd price.
With the change, the one-litre Nandini curd pack should now cost around ₹66 instead of ₹68.
The partial rollback gave some relief to consumers but prices were still higher than before. The government said the wider milk price revision was needed to help dairy farmers and raise their incomes.
Amul Offers Competitive Curd Prices
Amul has also come up in the discussion since Nandini raised prices. Reports and local market listings said Amul curd was being sold in Karnataka at ₹58 for a 900 gram pack and ₹29 for a 450 gram pack.
These prices got attention because consumers were looking for alternatives after Nandini price hike.
However, the pack sizes are different so direct price comparisons are needed. On a per-kilogram basis the difference is smaller than headline prices indicate.
Although social media discussions were having Amul pricing as a response to Nandini’s hike, there has been no nationwide announcement that a special price cut campaign is going on against Nandini.
Amul is getting aggressive with its curd pricing, with packs available for less than ₹10 and its 1 kg pack now at ₹58. How is KMF planning to respond to this competition? Nandini has a strong consumer base in Karnataka, but brand loyalty alone cannot be taken for granted when price is made way ahead of competition. You ruined Ghee prices also recently. KMF needs to rethink its pricing and market strategy before losing more ground to competition. PC : Kannada Prabha
— Bengaluru Post (@bengalurupost1) November 7, 2026
Consumers and Hotels Look for Affordable Options
Competition between Nandini and Amul may benefit consumers as it provides more choices in Karnataka’s dairy market.
For households curd is an everyday food product used in meals, cooking and traditional preparations. Small price increases can affect monthly grocery budgets.
Hotels and restaurants also need affordable dairy supplies to keep operating expenses in check without increasing menu prices.
Farmer Support Versus Consumer Affordability
The latest news illustrate the difficulty of finding a balance between dairy farmer welfare and consumer affordability.
Higher milk procurement prices can help farmers with increasing production costs but the price revisions impact household budgets.
For now Nandini is still being questioned over its revised prices and Amul’s counter offers are getting attention. All this could change consumer preferences and competition in Karnataka’s dairy market in the coming weeks.
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