India's Mahindra Shubhlabh Services Ltd (MSSL), the agri-business subsidiary of Indian automotive giant Mahindra, is streamlining its activities to focus on fruit exports following a company reshuffle.
The move, which sees MSSL's other agricultural services (seeds, crop care and farm finance among others) transfer to Mahindra's farm equipment division, means all company resources can be channelled into expanding its fruit business, MSSL business head Chaitanya Rajwade told Fruitnet.com.
'This `development` will immensely help grow the fruit business, both export and domestic,' he said. 'With undivided resources and the commitment of management, we can explore all opportunities to expand the business.'
To date, MSSL has exclusively exported Indian grapes to Europe. Volumes to its strategic marketing partner Capespan have increased almost uninterrupted year-on-year since 2005, making it India's leading grape supplier to Europe.
Now MSSL and Capespan plan to explore markets for Indian mangoes, pomegranates and potentially bananas in Europe, Asia and the Middle East too, Capespan's procurement director Geoff Green told Fruitnet.com.
'The Mahindra procurement model is a good one, and further improvements are planned for the coming season,' he said.
