Akankshya Mukherjee(intern@imaws.org)
WayCool Foods, India’s premier food, and agri-tech firm has announced an investment in AllFresh Supply Management Private Limited (AllFresh) as part of its global food supply chain Keiretsu strategy.
It has been at the forefront of the creation of modern supply chains in the apple and citrus industries, bringing cutting-edge procedures and technology to reduce food waste and increase the shelf life of these products. With increased prosperity, India’s consumption of premium fruit is expected to rise rapidly.
As the country expands its agricultural acreage to meet rising demand, the company will leverage its capabilities, as well as its network of apple and citrus growers and farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, among other places, to connect their output to the company’s extensive network of over 1,25,000 retail clients.
The investment will allow the company to expand its skills in post-harvest technology in order to improve quality and increase shelf life. It will also benefit from increased access to its extensive and dense distribution network in India and the United Arab Emirates.
“We welcome AllFresh into the WayCool Family. The investment in AllFresh would help us get superior apples and citrus from all around India. WayCool already imports these items from around the world. As a result, our investment in AllFresh completes our supply chain capability and allows us to deliver fresh fruit all year” stated Chinna Pardhasaradhi, Group CFO of WayCool Foods.
“I am happy to be on board with WayCool. Using cutting-edge knowledge and technology, we hope to reduce pre and post-harvest waste and provide higher value to farmers. We are excited to use our acquired knowledge in effective procurement and marketing of Indian apples and oranges to a broader basket of quality fruits in collaboration with WayCool” stated Naresh Jawa, founder, and promoter of AllFresh. AllFresh and WayCool share the goal of formalizing India’s dispersed fruit and vegetable sector.