Aman Goyal: India's Leaders In Rice Exports
Aman Goyal
Director
We learned a lot about the company in our recent interaction with Aman Goyal, Director, Shriram Food Industry. Here are some highlights from his interaction.
Throw some light on your professional background and experience. What inspired you to start this venture in the segment of food & beverage, and what drives you today?
During Lockdown, there was a boom in the Agri Commodities sector. I was asked by my father, Anup Goyal, to join the Rice Factory, our generational business. While at the time, he asked me to join the firm temporarily till the time lockdown ended, my interest was piqued as I learned more about the business and saw the processes in action. Gradually, I even developed an interest in rice exports. Shriram Food Industry is a well-known exporter based in Nagpur. We have been an integral part of this industry for four generations, manufacturing various kinds of rice, including Parboiled Rice, Long Grain Parboiled Rice, White Rice, Steam Rice, Steam Basmati Rice, Steamed White Basmati Rice, 100 percent Broken Rice, HMT Rice, Kolam Rice, BPT
Rice,and others. Our rice is characterized by unbroken long & fine grains which are white, clean, and smooth.
How would you define Shriram Food Industry as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its client base?
Shriram Food Industry is one of the largest rice exporters in the world, exporting 75,000 MT only to China and more than 40,000 MT to other countries, including Benin, Ivory Coast, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines. We value commitment to our loyal customers. With regard to the quality and the last shipment date we provide our end customers, we are quite strict in ensuring that the standards of quality remain high and our commitment remains true. We are known widely for our product quality, variety, as well as secure packaging and affordable prices.
What are the major challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you over come them, and what did you learn from them?
Since I am still pursuing my higher education at Symbiosis International University, the first major challenge was striking a balance between managing work and managing my education. As I struggled to juggle it all together, my father came to my rescue and taught me about Sales, Logistics, and more importantly, the pivotal role of ‘Discipline’. In two short years, now at the age of 21, I supervise over 50 percent of sales while also managing operations from various ports like Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Vizag, Chennai, Kolkata, and Kakinada. The second biggest challenge that I had to overcome was starting operations near Mundra, which, as per our research, was the best place for our next steps in the growth of our operations, and thus, the company. In doing so, the biggest challenges were posed when the question of finding suitable employees and creating benevolent relationships with the shipping line arose. During this period, I was in Gujrat, and through determination, I was able to
How would you define Shriram Food Industry as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its client base?
Shriram Food Industry is one of the largest rice exporters in the world, exporting 75,000 MT only to China and more than 40,000 MT to other countries, including Benin, Ivory Coast, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines. We value commitment to our loyal customers. With regard to the quality and the last shipment date we provide our end customers, we are quite strict in ensuring that the standards of quality remain high and our commitment remains true. We are known widely for our product quality, variety, as well as secure packaging and affordable prices.
What are the major challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you over come them, and what did you learn from them?
Since I am still pursuing my higher education at Symbiosis International University, the first major challenge was striking a balance between managing work and managing my education. As I struggled to juggle it all together, my father came to my rescue and taught me about Sales, Logistics, and more importantly, the pivotal role of ‘Discipline’. In two short years, now at the age of 21, I supervise over 50 percent of sales while also managing operations from various ports like Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Vizag, Chennai, Kolkata, and Kakinada. The second biggest challenge that I had to overcome was starting operations near Mundra, which, as per our research, was the best place for our next steps in the growth of our operations, and thus, the company. In doing so, the biggest challenges were posed when the question of finding suitable employees and creating benevolent relationships with the shipping line arose. During this period, I was in Gujrat, and through determination, I was able to
succeed, as a result of which we now export 30,000 MT per month only from Mundra Port in Gujrat.
How do you maintain the perfect balance between your personal & professional life? What is your success mantra?
Maintaining balance in my personal and professional life is extremely important to me. As such, I follow a tight schedule wherein physical exercise, focus on work, and quality time with friends & family are given ma ssive importance. At the end of a hectic day, I like to unwind with some coffee and the company of my friends. While achieving all this can be difficult, I am constantly motivated by my mantra of following the 3D's in life Discipline, Dedication, and Determination.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The future of the Indian market in Agri-Export is steadily rising. Being one of the biggest manufacturers and cultivators of rice, the demand for Indian grown rice is high, and many countries want to procure Agri Products from India due to the vast variety of Rice available. No other country comes close to cultivating as many varieties as India, which is why India is a leader in Rice exports.
Aman Goyal, Director, Shriram Foods Industry
Aman is a dynamic 21 years old individual who is juggling work and education, and excelling in both. He is yet to complete his BBA, however, he started work earlier to gain practical experience and understand the nitty-gritty of the business he was to take-over from his father, who is his biggest role model. He is constantly motivated by his father to keep his eyes on the prize, which, for him, is to grow the generational business that has been passed down to him. Having completed his school at the Indus International School, Pune, and Jain International School, Aman is currently enrolled in Symbiosis International University, a well-known institute of higher education. Aman is also an avid sportsperson and a National Level Basket ball player.
•Favorite cuisine:Asian
•Favorite book:Psychology of Money
•Favorite Travel Destination: Europe
•Awards & Recognition:
Got featured in Volza world news as 1st position in the world to export Rice to China
How do you maintain the perfect balance between your personal & professional life? What is your success mantra?
Maintaining balance in my personal and professional life is extremely important to me. As such, I follow a tight schedule wherein physical exercise, focus on work, and quality time with friends & family are given ma ssive importance. At the end of a hectic day, I like to unwind with some coffee and the company of my friends. While achieving all this can be difficult, I am constantly motivated by my mantra of following the 3D's in life Discipline, Dedication, and Determination.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
The future of the Indian market in Agri-Export is steadily rising. Being one of the biggest manufacturers and cultivators of rice, the demand for Indian grown rice is high, and many countries want to procure Agri Products from India due to the vast variety of Rice available. No other country comes close to cultivating as many varieties as India, which is why India is a leader in Rice exports.
Aman Goyal, Director, Shriram Foods Industry
Aman is a dynamic 21 years old individual who is juggling work and education, and excelling in both. He is yet to complete his BBA, however, he started work earlier to gain practical experience and understand the nitty-gritty of the business he was to take-over from his father, who is his biggest role model. He is constantly motivated by his father to keep his eyes on the prize, which, for him, is to grow the generational business that has been passed down to him. Having completed his school at the Indus International School, Pune, and Jain International School, Aman is currently enrolled in Symbiosis International University, a well-known institute of higher education. Aman is also an avid sportsperson and a National Level Basket ball player.
•Favorite cuisine:Asian
•Favorite book:Psychology of Money
•Favorite Travel Destination: Europe
•Awards & Recognition:
Got featured in Volza world news as 1st position in the world to export Rice to China