KC Das Looks to Re-enter UK Market After Five Decades on CETA Push

KC Das is planning a return to the United Kingdom after more than five decades, driven by the proposed India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and increasing overseas demand for established Indian food brands.

Dhiman Das, executive director of KC Das and a fifth-generation member of the founding family of Nobin Chandra Das, the inventor of the rosogolla, said the UK presents significant opportunity for Indian food businesses and restaurant brands. He noted that the expected implementation of CETA could ease regulatory and tariff-related challenges for food companies entering the market.

“We are actively looking for a suitable partner for the UK venture. The important thing is that the partner should be technically sound in dairy, as finance is not a critical issue” Das added.

The company is planning to establish a manufacturing facility in Birmingham to service London and surrounding regions. Birmingham is located around 190 km from London and offers logistical advantages for regional distribution. Das said the company has approached the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata for assistance in identifying a suitable local partner.

“We are planning to set up a manufacturing base in Birmingham which is relatively close to London, to cater to the metropolis market and adjoining regions. We have requested the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata to help us find a suitable partner” he said.

KC Das had entered the UK market in the 1960s but exited in 1965 due to the state milk order, which restricted its operations. Das expressed confidence that the brand could re-enter the market with institutional support. On sourcing strategy, Das clarified that importing raw materials from India would not be viable due to strict UK food safety and regulatory standards. As a result, the company plans to source ingredients locally, with dairy being a critical input for its product portfolio.

“The UK is a very stringent market and nothing is allowed from India. So we will have to source inputs locally, and dairy is a key ingredient” he said.

The India-UK CETA was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London in July 2025 after 14 rounds of negotiations and is expected to come into force in the first half of 2026. Andrew Fleming has described the agreement as the most “comprehensive and ambitious” trade pact negotiated between the two countries with implementation targeted by mid-2026.

Once operational, the agreement is expected to allow duty-free access for 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK, covering nearly the entire trade value and providing a boost to labour-intensive and processed food sectors. While KC Das currently exports vacuum-sealed canned rosogollas to multiple global markets and these products are occasionally available at Indian grocery stores in the UK, the company does not operate any direct retail outlets there. 

From a hospitality and food retail perspective, the proposed UK re-entry marks a strategic shift towards overseas manufacturing and localized operations, reflecting how legacy Indian brands are adapting to global compliance frameworks and evolving international demand.