Aavin management attributed the supply disruptions to a sudden, significant increase in daily consumer demand following price hikes by private milk competitors. In response to rising private retail prices, multi-brand agents aggressively revised their daily Aavin orders upward by 10,000 to 15,000 litres. While local procurement across Coimbatore stands at approximately 1.10 lakh litres daily, the union’s regional processing plant must process up to 3.10 lakh litres per day to supply Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and the Nilgiris districts, relying on supplementary bulk milk shipments from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to bridge the regional deficit.

The sudden volume expansion has exposed operational constraints within the processing plant’s chilling and packaging workflows. Under standard operating protocols, processed milk requires a mandatory two-hour chilling cycle to reach 4°C prior to transport loading to prevent spoilage during transit. To manage processing schedules, Aavin established a strict daily order-finalization deadline for agents, which was later extended to 6:00 PM following union protests. However, late order revisions continue to compress processing timelines, forcing facility equipment to operate under peak pressure and delaying dispatch schedules.

Logistical delays are further compounded by systemic delays in returning plastic transport trays from retail agents. Delayed tray returns slow down automated packaging lines, creating secondary bottlenecks before delivery trucks can be loaded for city routes. In response to mounting public criticism, District Collector and Aavin Chairman Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar instructed senior administrative officials to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the plant’s operational workflows, establish strict dispatch timelines, and implement measures to stabilize distribution across the urban network.