Aroma Fresh on expansion in Kerala

Pesticide-free food products chain, Aroma Fresh, plans to open 20 outlets across Kerala in the next two years.

"We are in for a major investment and are planning to open 20 outlets across Kerala in the next two years. The pricing of the products would be affordable to the common man," said PK Sajeev, chairman and CEO of Aroma Horticulture Products.

The company is also scaling up its production of fresh fruits and vegetables from the existing 45 tonne to 280 tonne by the year-end.

"Our production plans are based on market requirements and trends. We have 10,000-square metre of poly houses and 85 acres of precision farms spread across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We have launched an awareness campaign to reach out to more people and encourage them to use pesticide-free products," he said.

It's expansion is in line with the growth of organic food market which is anticipated at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 19 per cent during 2012-2017.

As part of its expansion, the company today opened two outlets in Kochi. Actress Suhasini Maniratnam, the brand ambassador of Aroma Fresh, inaugurated the new outlets at Panampilly Nagar and at Tripunithura. It has three outlets in Thiruvananthapuram.

Aroma Group CEO Arvind JV said Aroma Fresh produces GAP-certified pesticide-free fruits, vegetables, pulses, millets, cereals, spices, tea, coffee among others. Besides foodgrains, fruits and vegetables, it offers a range of natural cosmetic products, neutral soaps and cleansers, aromatic and essential oils.