Rajkot-based Champion Agro Limited plans to increase its presence in North India during the current fiscal with opening of 25 more stores. It also plans to increase its contract farming activity by 10 per cent to strengthen its retail vegetable and fruit business.
“We will increase our contract farming activity by 8 to 10 percent by end of this financial year. It will be done mainly in Saurashtra area as it is our home ground and we have collaboration with farmers since long”, said Dhirubhai Patel, chairman and managing director, Champion Agro Ltd.
"Also, the company already has 40 stores in Gujarat and we also plan to open another 25 such stores in North India in current financial year. It will be with investment of over Rs 10 crore for its retail business," he added.
The company is presently engaged in contract farming in 26,000 acres land spread over Saurashtra and South Gujarat. The farming is for cotton, groundnut, cumin, sesame, wheat, bajra (pearl millet), maize, vegetables, banana, mango, pomegranates and baby corn.
“As we are expanding our network in Gujarat and other parts of India in fruit and vegetable retailing, it is necessary to make our base stronger for adequate supply where contract farming helps us”, Dhirubhai said.
At present company is supplying fruits and vegetables to Carrefour, Big Bazaar, Mother Dairy, Reliance Fresh and others. It is also supplying baby corn to the Wal-Mart through its subsidiary Champion Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd. It has started retailing of mango, banana and other fruits and vegetables in North India mainly in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh.
In 20011-12 company’s turnover was Rs 430 crore and for 2012-13 it was targeting Rs 500 crore business.