Global agri-business giant Olam plans to enter the sugar retailing market in India before the end of the financial year in March, according to Bharat Kundal, Business Head-Sugar (India), Olam Agro India Pvt Ltd.
“We will be piloting it in the beginning,” Kundal told Cogencis on the sidelines of Kingsman Sugar Conference here today. “We will bring sugar packets of 1 kg and 5 kg, sachets of 5 gram, demerara sugar or brown sugar, sugar cubes, and some value-added products.”
Olam currently operates two sugar mills in India — one each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra — and has a good presence in the business-to-business segment in the world’s largest consumer of the sweetener.
“Olam is also exploring possibility of private labelling,” Kundal added.
The share of branded sugar in the retail segment is still small as loose sugar is available at a significant discount.