Madhusudan Agarwal, Vice Chairman , Haldiram Snacks , Pvt. Ltd.
During the lockdown and pandemic period there was a high demand for packed and branded food items in the country. The Mithai industry was on the losing side because 95 percent of sweets are sold loose in the country. How you are handling the growing demand for packed sweets?
We have not seen an increase in sales and also have not seen an increase in transaction, however we did sell packed sweets with limited variant.
Many companies have launched their product in the retail market after introducing the best packaging variants with good shelf life. Do you think now the time has come for all modern manufacturers to look beyond their showrooms?
Yes Online is the future with delivery and we have a remarkable presence in online marketing.
Many mithai & namkeen companies introduced automatic processing lines and food safety systems in their factories. What measures you are applying for safe and hygienic mithais & namkeens?
We have taken all Covid Safety and hygiene guidelines that the Govt. has implemented from time to time, however we were following with all food safety and hygiene related measures before Covid too.
It’s been observed that more than 200 new showrooms of mithai were inaugurated across the country in FSNM membership before Diwali. What are your efforts in this direction?
We have opened 7 Outlets at U.P. and NCR.
In the lockdown period and thereafter during the unlock process there was an acute shortage of labour in the food factories. What measures you are applying now to reduce manpower dependency?
We followed transaction per labor hour module and shifted the dependency on automation/machinery to face manpower crisis.