-Shalini Chandrasekar (editorial1@imaws.org)
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‘FNB Needs’, launched in 2018 and headquartered in Bengaluru, is currently expanding its services. The company supplies high-quality, processed, and ready-to-use vegetables, dairy products, groceries, and spices to restaurants, catering services, and food service establishments.
Their main objective is to simplify kitchen work and save time. By supplying products using modern technology without compromising on quality and freshness, they are providing significant assistance to chefs. Currently, the company has expanded its branches not only in Bengaluru but also in cities like Chennai, and is growing into a reliable business partner in the food industry.
D. Venkata Subramanian, the Managing Director of FnB Needs Foods Private Limited, which supplies raw materials, dairy products, and semi-processed foods such as grated coconut and peeled onions to hotels and catering services, shared many interesting insights about his company and the industry with us.
Venkat, who has 36 years of experience as a Vice President and IT Head at a QSR company, started his own F&B business 8 years ago. He shared his experience and offered some advice to young people who are considering venturing into the food industry.
What is the function of FnB Needs Foods Private Limited?
We supply raw materials for food, groceries, and semi-processed foods such as grated coconut and peeled onions in bulk to hotels, restaurants, and catering services, collectively referred to as HoReCa. Another service we offer is storing manufacturers’ products in bulk in our warehouse (Warehouse and logistics) and supplying them to the locations they specify. Another service is 3PA, a 3rd party agreement. If someone owns 10 shops, they will face difficulties in procuring the necessary goods for all those shops. In such cases, we fulfill their needs through our warehouse. This eliminates the need for them to manage a warehouse themselves.
We have been operating since 2017. Currently, we have offices in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru. We also have warehouses in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
What challenges have you faced?
Like all businesses, this one certainly has its challenges. No matter what problems arise, the quality of the products you provide, timely delivery, and payment terms are what will keep you going. I have been in the food industry for over 36 years, but I was working in different segments. I also served as a vice president in an IT company. Later, I fully dedicated myself to the food industry.
Regarding your expansion plans and partnerships with brands?
We plan to establish our warehouses in Delhi and Kolkata in the first quarter of 2026-2027. Regarding brands, we are partnered with ‘Allana Food Products’ as a carry forward agent. We manage their Hyderabad and Bengaluru warehouses. Their Kochi and Chennai warehouses will soon be added to this list. In addition to this, we work with various companies for dairy products, groceries, and many other products. We maintain partnerships with each company for at least 7-8 years.
What advice would you give to young people who want to venture into the food industry?
You don’t need to know the business inside out; just having the passion is enough, and it will guide you correctly. Just follow that. Especially in this sector, if you do well, you can keep expanding. Wherever there are hotels, there is a need for our services. We are currently operating in 3 locations and plan to expand to other cities as well.
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