Mumbai’s iconic dairy brand Aarey, once a household name and a symbol of post-Independence urban planning, is set to make a nostalgic return. The Maharashtra government has partnered with milk cooperative Mahananda to revive the beloved brand.

However, this time, Aarey will return without its original buffalo sheds or processing units. Instead, Mahananda will process and sell 25,000 litres of milk daily under the Aarey label at its Goregaon facility, bringing the brand back to Mumbaikar’s homes in a new form.

State dairy development secretary N Ramaswami confirmed that Mahananda will begin processing an additional 25,000 litres of milk daily under the Aarey label at its Goregaon facility, supplementing its current capacity of 80,000 litres.

Originally launched in 1949 to combat post-Independence milk shortages, Aarey operated out of the expansive forested area now known as Aarey Milk Colony. By 1951, the brand had expanded its offerings to include buttermilk, lassi, and the much-loved Energee flavoured milk, becoming a staple across Mumbai.

In 2012, production was outsourced to private firms, but the model faltered and came to a halt by 2022. The state’s processing centres at Kurla and Worli were also shut down, with machinery sold off as scrap in 2023.

Though the infrastructure and cityscape have evolved, Aarey’s return taps into a deep well of Mumbai’s collective nostalgia. While the iconic green booths may not return, the revival offers Mumbaikars a taste of the past, a comforting, familiar sip of history in a rapidly changing city.