Godrej Industries has appointed Avani Davda as the Managing Director for its gourmet retail business, Godrej Nature’s Basket. Davda takes over from Mohit Khattar, who will move to a new group level role, the company said in statement.
Prior to joining Godrej Nature’s Basket, Davda was Chief Executive Officer of Tata Starbucks. She has been associated with Tata Global Beverages, Taj Hotels, Infiniti Retail, Tata Housing and Tata Infrastructure and Realty.
Mohit Khattar who was the managing director of the company will move to a new role as Head – Retail Strategy and Branding in the company.
“In line with our strategic approach to manage and synergise benefits of the retail potential across the Godrej Group, we are also creating the role of Head – Retail Strategy and Branding, which will work with businesses across the group,” Executive Director & Chief Brand Officer Godrej Group, Tanya Dubash said.
Under Khattar’s watch, Godrej Nature’s Basket had evolved as not just a destination for fine foods and ingredients, but also as a buzzing retail place where one must be seen and intermingle with chefs, pick up the latest food trends in town, acquire a few skills and tips and have an enjoyable shopping trip in general. It’s consistent expansion in scale and robust growth in sales – 10 times sales in just over 5 years – fetched it several accolades at industry platforms.
Khattar believes the success is the outcome of the chain’s consumer centricity and its responsiveness, among other things. “To be able to replicate this success, retail businesses must be laser focused on (a) understanding the needs of their TG, (b) responding to those needs (c) manage their supply chain efficiently by keeping stock turns high and minimizing losses due to dump, stock discrepancies and expired products,” he says.
Godrej Nature’s Basket – The Inception
Godrej Nature’s Basket, the retail venture of Godrej Group and is a foremost retail destination for fine foods from across the world. Started in 2005 as a single fresh food store, it has today morphed into a 36-store chain of premium gourmet stores strategically located at high street locations in Mumbai, Delhi/NCR, Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
According to company officials, older stores are all profitable. In the industry, typically newer stores have a two-three year cycle to break even, but Godrej Nature’s Basket opens four-eight stores every year.
The retail chain also tied up with Snapdeal and Amazon to sell its products online in 6,000 plus pincodes.
The gourmet retail chain boasts of stocking the best international and domestic wines, cold cuts, meats, cheese, organic foods and a large variety of pastas, noodles, beverages, exotic and rare ingredients, meals, sauces, preserves and packaged food from around the world. Every item in the assortment is handpicked from the very best that Europe, Australia, Asia and the US have to offer.
It caters to the refined needs of up-market urban consumers for irresistibly authentic world food and ingredients.
The site’s aim to make food shopping a bigger pleasure and enable better and brighter experiences for customers by making it even easier for them to source the finest from around the world.
Mohit Khattar had said in January that the overall food market has been growing in a robust manner at 20 per cent + every year since the last few years. Nature’s Basket alone has been growing at 35-40 per cent year-on-year.
