Chapter-1 Research Methodology

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1.1 Problem Statement

The project Study aims to conduct drive retail initiatives in Ahmedabad city, and to measure its impact on sales for Ramdev foods products Pvt. Ltd. The research is exploratory in nature and quantitative research tools to be used for data collection & analysis the data will be collected from the survey of the grocery retailers who sell Ramdev products. How the Channel Sales management is working in Ramdev foods private ltd. How does Proper Channel Sales management affect the sales? How does channel design make any difference? How availability and distribution network spices affects on its sales and satisfaction of retailers? Effect of waiting time after ordering on the retailers as well as on sales? How layers of distribution network affects on the availability and sales of the product?

1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Primary Research Objectives
To identify service GAP areas To measure availability of the Ramdev product portfolio & identify reasons for nonavailability and suggest ways to improve.

Secondary Research Objectives:

To find out the Retailers preference and behavior in terms of selling and promotion of Ramdev products with reference to its distribution networks strength. To identify the influence of dealers or big retailers in selling of Ramdev products over the end consumers. To find out the reasons for not attaining in some products. (Like Ramdev Hing etc.) in accordance with the availability of other products instead of Ramdev spices and instant mix.

1.3 Method of Data collection

We opted for a descriptive research type to achieve the above stated research objectives.

Sampling: Sample Design: The sample design for this project was a non probability Sampling Design. Under the non probability Sampling Techniques, judgmental Sampling method is to be implemented. Sample Size: 400 Grocery Retailers Qualified Sample: 335 Sample Unit: Owner of the retail grocery shop Sampling Method: Non-Probabilistic Convenience sampling for Respondents Sampling Unit

Sample Geography: Grocery retailers of Ahmedabad city

Data Collection Source:

Primary data: Primary Data was collected with the help of survey & questionnaires. Secondary data: The secondary data was collected through journal, magazines and web portals.

1.4 Questionnaire Design

The questionnaire has been design as per the concept of the questionnaire design. Following are the objective and sub objectives of the questionnaire: Objective: To study the availability of Ramdev products at different retail stores with reference to particular products. Selecting product categories Customer demographic segmentation Sorting the questions in logical sequence Selecting & Coding the responses

Sub-objectives: To study the impact of promotional activities on purchase behavior of buyers. To study the preference given to different brands of spices as per their age and income. To study the brand loyalty of buyers. Ranking questions and preferential questions used in the questionnaire. A copy of questionnaire is included in annexure at the end of the report.

1.5 Data Analysis Methods

Hypothesis testing by Z test Perceptual mapping Charts

1.6 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

The scope of the research is limited in the following directions. The geographic scope is limited to Ahmedabad city only. The industry scope is limited to grocery retail sector & Private Labels only, the unorganized sector which is a major chunk is kept out of the scope. The product category scope is limited to the selected categories selected on the basis of availability.
The time scope is limited to 6 months which is the duration for the project

Chapter-2 Industry Overview

2.1 Introduction to the Industry

The Story of Indian spices is more than 7000 years old. The fame of Indian spices is older than the recorded history. Centuries before Greece and Rome had been discovered, sailing ships were carrying Indian spices, perfumes and textile to Mesopotamia, Arabia and Egypt. It was the lure of these that brought many seafarers to the shores of India. Long before Christian era, the Greek merchants thronged the markets of South India, buying many expensive items amongst which spices were one. Epicurean Rome was spending a fortune on Indian spices, silks, brocades, Dhaka Muslin and cloth of gold, etc. It is believed that the Parthian wars were being fought by Rome largely to keep open the trade route to India. It is also said that Indian spices and her famed products were the main lure for crusades and expeditions to the East. Today when spices cost so little, it seems unbelievable that they were once a royal luxury and those men were willing to risk their lives in quest of them. Though there were the Dark Ages, but there were rich people who had gold to exchange for pepper and cinnamon. It was in the year 1492 A.D., that Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. Five years later, four tiny ships sailed southward from the port of Lisbon, Portugal, under the guidance of Captain Vasco Da Gama. Like Columbus, Vasco Da Gama too was searching for a new route to the spice lands of Asia. While Columbus failed to achieve the goal, Da Gama succeeded. In a two year, 24,000 miles round trip, he took his ships around the continent of Africa to India and back to Lisbon. Only two of the four ships survived to reach their homeport. These two ships brought back a cargo of spices and other products worth 60 times the cost of the said voyage. The spices of the East were valuable in those times, during these Middle Ages; a pound of ginger was worth a sheep, a pound of mace worth three sheeps or half a cow. Pepper, the most valuable spice of all, was counted out in individual peppercorns, and a sack of pepper was said to be worth a man`s life. Da Gama`s successful voyage intensified an international power struggle for control over the spice trade. For three centuries afterwards the nations of Western Europe - Portugal, Spain, France, Holland, and Great Britain - fought bloody sea-wars over the spice-producing colonies.

By the year 1000 Arabians had conquered the Indus valley, what is now India. They brought the cumin and coriander that mixed with Indian pepper; ginger and turmeric make up the base of so many South Asian dishes. It was this combination of spices that centurys later British sailors spread throughout the world as curry powder. In India, Arabian traders got the rare and exotic spices of the Far East from local spice merchants. Arabian traders were able to make good money supplying these spices, even with the high prices paid to the Indian middle men, not only to their countrymen back home, but to Europe as well. These traders of spices paid for the Art and Education for which Arabia became famous in the present day. In many ways the culture of Arabia loved studying and learning different things. Many great Greek and Roman plays were translated in Arabic, so too were the geographic writings of Pliny and Ptolemy telling of the general location of the tabled Spice Islands. In nutshell, the fascinating history of spices is a story of adventure, exploration, conquest and fierce naval rivalry.

The people of those times used spices, as we do today, to enhance or vary the flavors of their foods. Spices were also flavor disguisers, masking the taste of the otherwise tasteless food that was nutritious, but if un spices, had to be thrown away. Some spices were also used for preserving food like meat for a year or more without refrigeration. In the sixteenth century, cloves were used to preserve food without refrigeration. Cloves contain a chemical called eugenol that inhibits the growth of bacteria. It is still used to preserve some modern foods like Virginia ham. Later, mustard and ground mustard were also found to have preservative qualities. When spices were not available people went hungry because they could not preserve their foods to carry them over to the winter. Such was the importance of spices those days.

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Broadly, there are two main subdivisions of spices one being the major spices and the other is minor spices. For example the spices like pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, chilies etc., comes under major category.

The important minor spices grown in India are ajowan, aniseed, caraway, celery, coriander, cumin, dill seed, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, onion, saffron, vanilla etc.

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2.2 Exports of Indian Spices

In last few decades India faced enormous growth in the exports of Indian spices in the world those exports includes branded and non-branded. Indian spices are exported to more than 140 countries. The aroma, flavor and exquisite characteristics of Indian spices are well acclaimed the world over. The wide range of 52 spices and its products in our export basket have impressed the discerning consumers. These buyers have identified India as the destination for quality spices. North America is the major buyer of Indian spices followed by EU, Japan and West Asian countries.

Indias export Market F.Y. 2001 (U.S. $ 44 bn) Asia -38.7% Africa-4.1% North America-22.4% CIS and Baltics-2.3% LAC-2.2% Europe-25.9% Other-4.3%

Indias export Market F.Y. 2008 (U.S. $163 bn) Asia -51.7% Africa-7.1% North America-13.5% CIS and Baltics-1.1% LAC-3.5% Europe-22.9% Other-0.3%

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2.3 Basics of Spices

Spices are seasonings for food that come from the bark, buds, fruit or flower parts, roots, seeds or stems of various aromatic plants and trees. According to the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), spices are 'any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes.' This definition covers a wide range of plant and plant parts: tropical aromatics, leafy herbs, spice seeds, roots, dehydrated vegetables, and spice blends. The earliest written record in India on Spices is the venerable Vedas - such as the Rig Veda (around 6000 BC), and the others - Yajurveda, Sama and Atharva. During the Vedic period, information was primarily was handed down orally from generation to generations through the medium of hymns. The Rig Veda contains references to various spices such as horseradish - a close relation of Mustard and Turnip. There are also references to Black Pepper in the Yajur Veda. These are but few of the spices in the natural expanse of the subcontinent - in the mountain, swamps, riverines, tropical rain forests, wetlands, marshy woodlands, rich valleys, green fields in a pollution-free, & eco-friendly environment. The history of Indian spices lies in the abundance & goodness that Mother Nature has blessed it with and made it so popular world wide. At the time only tropical aromatics like pepper, cinnamon, and cloves were considered a spice. The leaves and seeds of temperate-zone plants like basil and oregano were known as herbs. Today this classification has shifted somewhat, even though still used in some circles. The term spice now generally includes a whole range of elements: spices, herbs, blends and dehydrated vegetables. Legally the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still considers dehydrated vegetables as separate and distinct from spices; they require such seasonings to be labeled differently than spices. Spices used for coloring like paprika and saffron are also labeled separately or as a 'spice coloring.' The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) follows similar rules as the FDA. Spice colorings and mustard must be labeled separate from spices, onion and garlic are listed as flavors, and all other dehydrated vegetables are labeled separately by name.

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2.4 Brief background of Spices Board:

Spices Board was constituted on 26th February 1986 under the Spices Board Act 1986 (No. 10 of 1986) with the merger of the erstwhile Cardamom Board (1968) and Spices Export Promotion Council (1960). The Board has 35 regional offices, 38 field offices and 4 research institutions functioning all over India. The mandate of the Board includes research and development of cardamom, regulation of cardamom trade, quality evaluation/improvement, export promotion of spices and support for post harvest improvement of spices, production and research of vanilla, production of organic spices, and development of spices in North East Region. The regulatory functions of the Board include registration of spices exporters and licensing of dealers and auctioneers of cardamom.

2.5 Current scenario of export Indian spices are exported to more than 140 countries. The aroma, flavor and exquisite characteristics of Indian spices are well acclaimed the world over. The wide range of 52 spices and its products in our export basket have impressed the discerning consumers. These buyers have identified India as the destination for quality spices. North America is the major buyer of Indian spices followed by EU, Japan and West Asian countries.

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2.6 Current size of the Indian spice exporters Indian spice industry sector consists of 2100 registered exporters, of which 100 exporters contributes to the extent of 80% of exports. Out of the 380 manufacturer exporters, 98 units have been established in-house laboratories and 35 units with ISO 9000, 18 units accredited with HACCP certification. 32 spice brands have been registered with the Board. More than 20 processing units have upgraded their technology to meet the international quality standards/buyers' requirements.

2.7 Different varieties of spices

Products of spices like spice powders/curry mixtures, spice oils and oleoresins including mint oil and menthol crystal contribute nearly 50% of the total export earning. Major value added products viz., spice oils & oleoresins, spice powders, mixtures, blends, curry powders/pastes, spices in brine, freeze dried spices, dehydrated spices, frozen spices, color extracts have got good demand in developed countries. Recent additions to the list are vanilla, herbal spices and organic spices which have become the focus products in the international market. Value addition is the key.

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2.8 Cultivation of spices

Spice cultivation and production practices take in to account diverse aspects of Implementation of cutting-edge agro-techniques and cultivation methods, nutrient management, have all ensured that there has been a sustained increase in the productivity & quality of the spices crops that are grown and harvested by us.

Site selection Adaptability Seedbed preparation Seeding Fertilization Weed control Harvesting Storage Processing

2.8.1 What is organic cultivation? Organic Cultivation is a type of farming that does not involve usage of chemicals like chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In recent years, organic agriculture has gained considerable importance.

Major shift has been observed in the farming culture, due to which several farmers have begun practicing this traditional method of cultivation. The reason being, organic cultivation is proven as the means to produce safe foodstuffs and preserve the environment. But even today, numerous small farmers have been practicing organic farming, but are unable to reap its benefits. The spices and other food stuffs produced from this type of farming are certainly without any harmful ingredients.
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2.8.2 Organic Cultivation: With a rising demand in the world market for hygienic foods, there has been a trend towards the adoption of organic methods of cultivation. The use of organic cultivation and the use of natural fertilizers have become popular among cultivators around the world. Organic farming is crop production method that promotes environmental sustainability. While optimizing resource use, it ensures that the crops produced are nutritive, healthy and pollution free. The various advantages of adopting organic cultivation are:

Producing healthy, nutritious and high quality food Encouraging and enhancing biological cycles Enhancing the long-term fertility of soils Aids soil and water conservation Maintains the diversity of the gene pool Minimizes pollution from outdated agricultural practices Preserves and nurtures traditional knowledge in farming methods & seeds varieties Minimizes the negative impact of social and ecological impact of farming systems

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2.8.3 How is organic cultivation different from general Cultivation?

Multitudes of benefits are associated with the organic cultivation. Besides being one of the traditional methods of farming, this type of cultivation is also considered to be better than the general cultivation. Many facts are associated with this conclusion, one being the organic fertilizers are carbon based compounds that increase the productivity of plants. The organic cultivation has various benefits over general cultivation, some of which are underlined below: Non-toxic spices: By using organic fertilizers in our farming unit, the spices produced are free of harmful chemicals. As a result, end-consumers who use these spices in their food items will be less prone to diseases such as cancer, heart stroke and skin disorders, as compared to those who consume the spices produced using chemical fertilizers. Fertility of soil: Organic cultivation ensures that the farms remain fertile for years. On the contrary, the practice of general or inorganic farming has resulted in infertility of the land, forcing many farmers to increase the chemical fertilizer inputs or leave farming. Safe environment: Organic fertilizers are easily bio-degradable and do not cause environmental pollution, but chemical fertilizers contaminate land and water. Moreover, the usage of chemical fertilizers can cause varying diseases in human beings and extinction of a number of plant, animal and insect species.

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2.8.4 Trends of organic cultivation

Organic Cultivation has become one of the popular methods of farming, in the recent times. This trend is exhibited from the world wide demand of the organic spices.

World demand for organic foods The global demand for organically produced spices and other food products is growing rapidly in developed countries like Europe, USA, Japan and Australia. Worldwide, food trends are changing with the increasing health concern. As organic foods & spices are free from chemical contaminants, the demand for these products is steadily increasing to a great extent. According to the ITC, UNCTAD/GAT, more than 130 countries are engrossed in certified organic foods cultivation, out of which 100 are from Asia and Africa. Internationally, a shift towards traditional / ethnic medicines is an essential factor contributing to the growth of organic cultivation. Since spices form part of many medicines, the demand for organically produced spices is also increasing. Initiatives taken by Spice Board of India for promoting the production and export of organic spices have widely affected the overall cultivation of the spices in India.

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2.8.5 The Indian Initiative

Spices Board India has prepared a comprehensive document on production of organic spices. It includes the organic concepts, principles, basic standards, production guidelines, documentation, inspection and certification related to production methods.

Research programs on organic cultivation form the important part in spice production. The research work is carried out at the Spices Board's Indian Cardamon Research Institute at ldukki district in Kerala.

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Chapter-3 Company Profile

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Vision: The focus is to become number 1 in pure powder spices and asafetida (Hing) in India

Mission: To set and maintain our own standard of quality spices and food products for consumers who value purity taste and health.

History of Ramdev food products pvt ltd.

The History of globalization started when our forefathers started business 40 years back and gradually the business expanded by members of Ramdev Family" by incorporating a Company "Ramdev Foods Products Pvt. Ltd." In 1989. Up to 1998 the Company achieved the marvelous success under the chairman ship of Shri Arvind R. Patel.

Ramdev food products ltd is a family owned business started by Mr. Rambhai patel in 1963 as a flour mill in saraspur with other flours, chilly, turmeric and such other spices were grinded.

In 1989 the existing business was transferred into an incorporated company RAMDEV FOOD PRODUCTS PVT LTD

In the year 1992 " Ramdev Family" again expanded creating two new companies "Ramdev Masala" for Retail outlets & "Ramdev Exports" for international market under the solemnly guidance & supervision of Directors Shri Arvind R. Patel, Rakesh A Patel & Chirag A Patel. 22

In 1992, first export consignment of Spices & Groceries was initialized, under the name & style of "Ramdev Exports". Ever since then, there was no looking back & our global presence is marked in all the major developed countries as one of the Leading Indian Exporter of Spices, Pulses, Groceries , Instant Mixes & an array of Indian Food stuffs.

The company introduced a concept of polypack instead of loose masalas successfully launched instant mixes, asafetida, blended spices, pickles masala thereafter instant mixes etc.

1991 expanded product range and diversified into related business of instant mix and convenient consumer packs that set a new trend in Indian spice market.

Actively involved in production planning, product formulation, business development, project management, and quality control, distribution and export management.

A visionary who initiated the tough task to set a distribution net work on foreign soils instead of exporting containers conventionally

The main reason behind their success can be attributed to the strong infrastructure. Their manufacturing unit is well equipped with the latest machinery and an excellent technology for manufacturing and processing of the products.

They are proud to boast of possessing hygienic machines for cleaning, grinding, and packing to maintain quality standards. They strives their best to meet the expectations of their international clients.

The entire unit has been set up under the guidelines of trained CFTRI Food Technologists. Ramdev are also been awarded with HACCP certificate, which enables us to follow complete hygienic procedure while processing our products. For more betterment we are under process to pursue ISO 22000 & BRC certification. 23

Chapter-4 Literature Review

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LITERATURE SURVEY
NEW DELHI (Commodity Online):

The global market for chilies is estimated at 400,000 metric tones and production in major countries are growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2 percent, according to K Devender Reddy of ITC Guntur. In a report presented at the recent World Spice Congress, he pointed out that productivity of Indian chilly has shown positive signs in recent years.

In chillies the major producing countries are India, China, Peru, Bangladesh, Hungary and few others. Production of major countries is growing at CAGR 5.2 percent. World trade in chilies is put at 400,000 metric tones. Indian share in global production range from 50 to 60 percent, China and Peru are growing fast and Hungary shows a decline. Peru and China are dominating world paprika trade. However India is the only one source for hot chilies.

The Indian productivity in Chilies has been showing positive signs showing rise from 1544 kg per hectare in 2005 to 1550 kg per hectare in 2009.During 2007 and 2008, the productivity recorded was 1685 and 1611 kg per hectare respectively. The steady increase in productivity was on account of hybrids.

KOCHI (Commodity Online): Sreekumar Raghavan

Indias value added spices may get more acceptances in USA if trends from supermarkets and restaurants are any indication. Trend experts Mintel reported that ethnic flavors are becoming the popular trend for ready-to-eat foods in USA and other leading countries. Since culinary herbs and spices show potential health benefits in scientific studies, the functional qualities will likely appeal to consumers. Products featuring turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger may be reaching the store shelves next year, Mintel said in their 2010 Global Packaged Food predictions.

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In the coming years, Indias spices exports mainly pepper would be more dependent on changing food consumption patterns in USA and other leading markets rather than just the production in Brazil or Vietnam.

According to Spices Board, spice oils and oleoresins including mint products like mint oils, menthol crystals, and menthol powder contributed 40% of the total export earnings for India in 2008-09. Chili contributed 20% followed by cumin 10%, pepper 8% and turmeric 5%. During the year 2008-09, Indian spices and spice products reached more than135 countries in world. The leading among them are USA (21%), Malaysia (7%), UAE (6%), China (6%) and UK (5%). Exports are increasing over a period of time. As well as Indian spices are being recognized for its quality and trust that has been changed over a period of time.

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India to be world spices hub by 2017

India will be the worlds largest spices processing hub by 2017, according to V J Kurien, chairman, Spices Board. Addressing a press conference here he said the board was making all efforts to achieve the goal within 10 years.

A vision document for the purpose in being prepared by a team of experts in the Spices Board and will be finalized in 3-4 months.

Currently, the country is handling 44 per cent of worlds total spices business quantity wise, and 35 per cent in value terms. More than 70 per cent of the worlds business in value-added spices products is also handled by India.

Kurien said the emergence of Vietnam as a processing centre would not be a serious threat to India as the countrys major firms were more quality conscious. According to the estimates of the board, India had exported value-added spices-based products worth Rs 2,100 crore in 200607 which is a remarkable in history.

The board will launch e-auction of cardamom by next July. Although the commerce ministry had announced the project almost a year back, this will be set in motion in the beginning of the next harvesting season. The testing of the new system is in full-swing, and will be introduced at Bodinaykanoor in Tamil Nadu and later will be extended to other major cardamom auction centers.

Kurien said during the on-going Five Year Plan, 9 more spices parks would be set up in various states apart from the first one being set up in Idukki district of Kerala. Though the exact locations of the parks are yet to be finalized, one each will come up at Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the Spices Board chairman ruled out the possibility of extension of the export subsidy scheme for black pepper. Domestic prices of the commodity have appreciated more than 100 per cent during the last 6-7 months, thus severely affecting exports.
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Chapter-5 Product Classification

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No country in the world produces as many kinds of spices as India. At present, India produces around 2.5 million tones of different spices valued at approximately 3 billion US $, and holds the premier position in the world. Because of the varying climates - from tropical to sub-tropical to temperate-almost all spices are grown in this country. In almost all of the 25 states and seven union territories of India, at least one spice is grown in abundance. There are lots of spices which India exports to all over the world they are namely Chili, Turmeric, coriander, Methi, Saffron, Piper, and Fennel etc.

Botanical name: Capsicum arutescens Capsicum annum Family: Solanaceae Part used: Fruit Grades: The highly pungent "Sannam" & the mildly pungent 'mundu' chilies are internationally popular varieties. India also offers 'gospurea chili'. Chilies come as whole, with or without stalks & with clipped stalks and fresh and dried capsicum and as powder, oils and oleoresins. Byadgi chili grown in Dharwad district of Karnataka and Tomato chilies in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh has high colour value.

Description & distribution Chili is considered the most important contribution from America to the world of spices. However, today India is the foremost producer and exporter of chili.
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Chili is the dried fruit of an annual sub-herb. It is also called as capsicum, paprika, sweet pepper, red pepper, pimento, cayenne pepper etc depending upon the manner in which it is prepared and used. Chili comes in a wide range of shapes, sizes, color and degrees of pungency. Some varieties of chili are highly pungent, medium pungent, others flavorsome but not pungent. Chili is propagates by Seeds. Chili is grown in several parts of the world as a 'round - the- year crop'. In India the major producer States are Andhra Pradesh 49% of the total production, Karnataka 13%, Orissa 8%, Maharashtra 6%, Rajasthan 8%, Tamilnadu 6%, West Bengal 5% & Gujarat 2%. Harvesting Season: January August Marketing Season: October June Uses Chili forms an indispensable culinary spice in several parts of the world. It is also used in beverages and in the preparation of medicines. Export: Indian chili is mainly exported to USA, Srilanka, Bangladesh, the Middle East and the Far East. Botanical name: Curcuma longa Family: Zingiberaceae Part used: Rhizome Grades: The well accepted grades of Indian turmeric are 'Alleppey finger', from (Kerala), 'Madras finger' and 'Erode finger' from Tamil Nadu, Rajapore and Sangli turmeric from Maharashtra and Nizamabad bulb from Andhra Pradesh. Turmeric is also exported in powder form and asoleoresins.

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Description & distribution Turmeric, the dried rhizome of a herbaceous perennial, is indigenous to Southeast Asia. The primary rhizomes, round in shape are called 'bulbs', while the thin, long secondary rhizomes are 'fingers'. After harvest, the rhizomes are cleaned, boiled, dried and polished. Turmeric is closely related to ginger and is sometimes called Indian saffron due to its brilliant yellow color. The propagation of turmeric is by rhizomes. Turmeric is characterized with a fragrant, peppery aroma. It is slightly bitter in taste with a musky flavor. Turmeric is basically a tropical plant. India is the world's largest producer of turmeric and accounts for nearly 90% of the world production. With its inherent qualities, Indian turmeric is considered the best in the world. Andhra Pradesh ranks high with 57 % of the total Indian produce. Tamil Nadu contributes an 18%, Orissa 7%, west Bengal 4%, Karnataka 4%, 2% each by Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala.

Harvesting season: December to March Marketing season: February to May

Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum Family: Apiaceae Part used: Leaf & Seed Grades: India exports coriander in the form of seeds, powder and essential oils.

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Description & distribution

Coriander is of the Mediterranean. It is a herb mentioned in the bible. It was used as a cure for facial spots during the middle age. Coriander is now a major crop throughout the world.

Coriander is the dried fruit of an annual herb, with several branches and serrated leaves. The small flowers yield green globular fruits, which turn yellowish brown when ripe. The seeds are picked when the ripening is in progress and sun-dried.

Coriander is pleasantly aromatic and flavorful. Coriander requires full exposure to sunlight. Medium to heavy loamy soil, good drainage and well-distributed moisture are the other pre requisites for coriander. The Indian tropical climate is suitable for favors the cultivation of this crop. Coriander is a thriving crop in India with its quality enhanced by the organic cultivation followed by the Indian farmers.

63% of total Indian production comes from Rajasthan, 18% from Madhya Pradesh, 10% from Andhra Pradesh, 4% from Orissa and 2% from Uttar Pradesh. India contributes about 80% of the global supply.

Harvesting Season: November to April Marketing Season: January to June

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Uses It is used as a condiment in curries; as fresh leaves for garnishing of curries, and in chutney as an appetiser. It is also used in several beverages, liquors and perfumes. It is highly valued for its medicinal properties and for its use as a condiment.

Export

Indian coriander is mainly exported to the USA, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the Middle East.

Botanical name: Piper nigrum Family: Piperaceae Part used: Fruit Seed Grades: Two of the most celebrated varieties of Indian black pepper are "Malabar Garbled" & "Tellicherry Extra Bold". India also offers green pepper in several processed forms - frozen, dehydrated, freeze dried and pepper in brine.

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Description & distribution

Pepper is one of the oldest and best-known spices in the world. Indigenous to India pepper is popularly known as the king of spices: From time immemorial India has always reigned supreme in the production & export of this most exotic and renowned spice in the world.

Pepper plant is a perennial climber with dark green leaves and spikes of white flowers. The peppercorn is a berry like drupe, about cm in diameter, green when unripe and then red. Black pepper comes from whole fruit, picked just before they are completely ripe and dried. White pepper comes from ripe fruits with the endocarp separated after fomentation.

Pepper is grown in the monsoon forests along the Malabar Coast in South India. A national environment combined with organic cultivation techniques make it some of the finest quality pepper found in the world.

India contributes about 25-30 per cent of the world production, of this Kerala accounts for over 96 percent. The remaining is contributed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Union Territory of Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Island, Meghalaya and Tripura have taken up Pepper cultivation. Harvesting Season: October February

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Uses Pepper is used widely in the preparations of various dishes ranging from the south Indian cuisine to the Western soups. It is used for pickles, seafood salads etc., beverages and in the preparation of preservatives. It has high medicinal value. An ingredient for skin and body care, it acts as an astringent, lightener and toner, activates blood circulation and stimulates follicles.

Export Major importers of Indian Pepper are USA, Canada, Russia and European Countries.

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Major market for spices/spices products in India:

Spices/Spice Products Spices Black Pepper

Markets

Cochin, Alleppey, Calicut, Nedumangad, Konni, Adoor, Pala, Alwaye, Thodupuzha, Chalakudy, Badagara, Cannanore, Tellicherry, Kanjangad, Kasaragod-(Kerala); Bombay-(Maharashtra)

Cardamom

Cochin, Thodupuzha-(Kerala); Saklashpur, Mercara, Medikeri, Mangalore(Karnataka); Bombay-(Maharashtra); Virudhunagar, Cumbum,

Bodinayakkanur, Thevaram, Pattiveerampatti-(Tamil Nadu) Chillies Virudhnagar, Tuticorin, Sankarankoil, Kovilpatti, Theni, Ariyalur,

Ramnad-(Tamil Nadu); Guntur-(Andhra redesh) Ginger Cochin, Alleppey, Punalur, Adoor, Pala, Alwaye, Moovattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Calicut, Tellicherry-(Kerala) Turmeric Alleppey-(Kerala); Erode-(Tamil Nadu); Cudappah, Nizamabad, Guntur(Andhra Pradesh); Sangi-(Maharashtra) Celery seed Coriander seed Amritsar-(Punjab), Nadiad-(Gujarat); Saharanpur-(Uttar Predesh) Guntur, Varavakonda, Nandyal-(Andhra Pradesh); Ramganj (Mandi) Baran,Kotta-(Rajasthan) ; Thiruchirappilly, Virudhunagar-(Thamil Nadu) Davangore-(Karnataka); Varanasi, Jaunpur-(Uttar Pradesh) Cumin seed Unjha, Palan, Mohsana, Visnagar-(Gujarat); Jaipur, Kisangarh Kokri(Rajasthan) Fennel seed Unjha, Visnagar, Nadiad, Vijapur-(Gujarat); Patna-(Bihar);

Jodhpur-(Rjasthan); Varanasi, Hathras, Gorakhpur-(Uttar Predesh)

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Fenugreek seed

Unjha, Idar, Visnagar-(Gujarat) Jaora,Indore, Khjner (Madhya Predesh) Molerkotla-(Punjab), Varanasi,Jampur, Hapur-(Uttar Pradesh) Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ramganj-Mandi, Bhawani-Mandi, Baran -(Rajasthan)

Garlic

Hassan, Hubli, Gulbarga-(Karnataka); Nizamabad, Hyderabad-(Andhra Pradesh); Poona, Nasik-(Maharashtra); Bundi, Ramganj-Mandi BhawaniMandi (Rajasthan); Patna-(Bihar); Surat, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Visnagar(Gujarath); Nimach, Pipaliya, Mandhasaud-(Madhya Pradesh); Varanasi, Jaunpur-(Uttar pradesh)

Spice Products Curry powder Madras-(Tamil Nadu); Bombay-(Maharashtra); Cochin-(Kerala); Calcutta(West Bengal); Banglore-(Karnataka) Oils and Oleoresins Cochin, Calcutta,Alleppey-(Kerala) Bombay-(Maharashtra); Madras

Madurai-(Tamil Nadu); Banglore-(Karnataka)

38

Chapter-6 Analysis of the Questionnaire

39

Q-1 Taking into consideration brands of spices available in various grocery retail stores of Ahmedabad.

40

From the graph above we can interpret product availability of chilli powder, haldi powder and dhanajeera powder under various packaging from 15 Gms to 1 kg with reference to various brands like Ramdev, Everest, Spyran, Kitchen Express, Badshah, Majethiya and Wonder Masala in grocery retail stores.

335 qualified samples which are being surveyed in the project study shows that Ramdev Masala is clearly leading in the spices industry in Ahmedabad in organized retail.

Out of 335 retailers 150 of them were having 15 gms packing of Ramdev chilli, haldi and dhanajeera, 149 had 35 gms packing of all three products, 235 retailers had 50 gms packing, 320 had 100 gms packing, 319 retailers had 200 gms packing of Ramdev products, 303 had 500 gms packing and 153 retailers had 1 kg packing of the products of Ramdev Masala,

In case of Everest for various weights 15 gms, 35 gms, 50 gms, 100 gms, 200 gms, 500 gms and 1 kg retailers had 42, 63, 60, 52, 36, 33 and 27. For Spayran Masala it was 52, 51, 57, 48, 34, 39 and 15. For Kitchen Express it was 116, 110, 228, 279, 287, 270 and 127. For Badshah it was 49, 49, 60, 61, 57, 50 and 16. For Majethiya it was 47, 49, 37, 51, 39, 39 and 11. For Wonder Masala it was 107, 114, 108, 110, 105, 83 and 44.

From the data we can analysis that 90% of the retailers had the Ramdev as their brands in their stores for the weights of 100 gms, 200 gms and 500 gms.

Kitchen Express is second most leading brand in all spices though Ramdev is leading but in some time Kitchen Express is able to get some more market with their strong Channel system and margin policy.

Wonder Masala, Spayran Masala and Majethiya are having very low market share but their presence and availability was more found in small packing sizes, into that Wonder Masala is having a good market share with their small packing sizes in all chilli, Haldi and Dhanajeera.
41

From the research we may find that there is a huge potential in small sizes of blended spices, there is a huge market of Unorganized and non-Branded spices particularly in Gujarat market.

In most of the stores it was found that Ramdev was available product it was equally preferred by customers and retailers and product availed by retailers in sizes of 100 gms, 200 gms and 500 gms.

In most of the stores 1 kg of packing sizes is not ordered as frequently by all retailers as compared to other packing as customers prefer to buy either of 100 gms, 200 gms and 500 gms.

It is clearly showing that other brands are striving for their presence in the market Ramdev is having a very good brand name as compare to all and it also shows their strong channel distribution.

42

Q-2 Brands of spices do preferred by consumers

8%

6%

2% Ramdev 46% Everest Kitchen Badshah

24%

Wonder Spyran 14%

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From the data above we can see that Ramdev is being preferred by 46% of consumers, Everest was preferred by 14% where as Kitchen Express was preferred by 24%where others Badshah, Wonder Masala and Spayran Masala were 8%, 6% and 2%

From the pilot study we derive that out of seven six brands were highly preferred by consumers.

Out of all six Ramdev is highly preferred by consumers, in case of popularity for spices like chili, Haldi and Dhanajeera powder, as well as Ramdev is far ahead of others.

Second leading brand again is Kitchen Express, though it has not been favored by consumers as high as Ramdev but their market is increasing and it can be a big threat for the market of share of Ramdev.

Nationwide famous brands like Everest and Badshah are not able to survive in blended spices market, though their share is quiet good in Garam Masalas.

Everest is third most brand preferred by consumers, and it has a good impact over the consumers minds.

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Q-3 Consumers ratings towards various brands.

Ramdev

Preference of the people as far as Ramdev is concern it can be inffered clearly from the above graph that Ramdev is most preferred by almost majority of Retailers to sell in almost all areas of ahmedabad and the people who does not have perference towards Ramdev are almost in negligible count, weighted average mean also supports the graph it is 4.59 out of 5.

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Everest

Preference of the people as far as Everest is concern it can be inffered clearly from the above graph that Everest is second and third most preferred after Ramdev and Kitchen Express, by almost majority of Retailers to sell in almost all areas of ahmedabad and the people who have strong perference towards Everest are almost in negligible count, weighted average mean is 3.34 for everest which is infered from the above graph.
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Spayaran

Analyzing the preference of people as far as Spayran Masala is concern it can be inffered clearly from the above graph that spayaran is having mixed preference in the minds of the Retailers as well as in the minds of the consumers as its graph is scattered into all the option from Most preferred till Not preferred.In the above study it came in notice that Spayran Masala is not much known by the consumers so not stored by the retailers compared to the stock of Ramdev stored by them, weighted average mean is 2.75 which is not very favourable by consumers.

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Kitchen

As mentioned above Kitchen Express is having preference in some parts of the Ahmedabad which is equivalent to Ramdev or even more then Ramdev in some parts of the Ahmedabad it can be clearly inferred from the graph that Kitchen Express is having Strong preference in East 2 part of the Ahmedabad and also it is having second leading reference group after Ramdev, weighted average mean is 4.08 which is 2nd best after Ramdev.

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Badshah

Taking into consideration Badshahs preference in the minds of the target audience of the scope of research it is the brand which is holding third position after Ramdev and Kitchen Express. It is clearly visible in the graph that it is third most preferred brand and it also have group of audience who does not prefer this brand or some what have less preference towards the brand, weighted average mean is 2.94 which shows that it is not very preferable by consumers.

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Majethiya

Majethiya is the brand which is only preferred by the consumers in the small packing size and as far as its preference towards the regular packing is concern it is not known to most of the consumers. It is due to its small packing only the above graph is more skewed towards third most preferred brand but in actual as mentioned above Badshah is third most preferred brand in Regular packing sizes, weighted average mean is 2.44 which indicate that majethiya is least preferred brand.

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Wonder

Now analyzing Wonder Masala it holds around 43% of the audience who rate Wonder Masala in least preferred and less preferred so it can be clearly inferred from the above graph that it has less preference of consumer. But like Kitchen Express it also has strong reference group of people in some parts of Ahmedabad that is the reason that around 32% of people have rated it as third most preferred brand as shown in above graph, weighted average mean is 2.70 which indicates that brand is not much preferred.

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Q-4 Frequency of ordering.

While analyzing the purchase cycle of the retailers for the above mentioned brands it is observed that the channel of sales in the field of spices is quite uniform in all the cases of the above mentioned brands. It can be clearly interpreted that most of the retailers has weekly purchase cycle followed by fortnightly, Monthly and Quarterly respectively.

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Q-5 Rating of retailers on the availability. Chili Powder

Taking into consideration the satisfaction level of Ramdev chili powder is considerably very high compared to other products of Ramdev the above graph clearly signifies that more that half of the total target group has greater amount of satisfaction level towards Ramdev chili powder and also the people not satisfied with Ramdev chili powder are in considerably negligible amount as per the above graph, weighted average mean is 4.44 which shows that chili powder gives the highest satisfaction in all products of Ramdev.

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Turmeric Powder

Considering the satisfaction level of turmeric powder of Ramdev in the target group of the scope of research, it is no doubt about that the people are highly satisfied by the same and also the graph is more favorable towards the high amount of satisfaction in minds of people towards Ramdev turmeric powder, weighted average mean is 4.06 it shows that consumers are also very highly satisfied of turmeric powder.

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Dhanajeera

Ramdev dhanajeera has its graph in quite typical format it is scatter in such a way that most of the responses of the consumers are equally distributed in highly satisfied, satisfied and neutral and the group which is not in favorable satisfaction towards the same are in small number. It can be inferred from the graph that the above product is in stuck in the middle position, weighted average mean is 4.03 which indicates high satisfaction level.
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Hing

Considering the satisfaction level Ramdev hing it is clear from the above graph that most of the interviewed audience is highly satisfied from the product and the people dissatisfied from the product is negligible in number, weighted average mean is 4.12 which means that consumers are very happy with the product.

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6. Rating of Ramdev spices on various parameters. Price

Analyzing Ramdev on the parameter of its price it does not hold such a strong position in minds of people as it is preferred by the people, from the graph it can be interpreted that price of Ramdev is not as pleasing to people as compared to its quality is, weighted average mean is 2.95 which means that somehow people are not very happy with price in comparison to other parameters of Ramdev.

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Quality

As mentioned above it is clearly seen in the graph that the Quality of Ramdev holds the pleasing image in the minds of people as around 90% of the people are satisfied with the quality that Ramdev offers in its product range from chili powder to turmeric powder, weighted average mean is 4.47 which indicates that people give maximum emphasis on quality.

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Product Variants

Ramdev product variants has its graph in quite typical format it is scatter in such a way that most of the responses of the consumers are equally distributed in highly satisfied, satisfied and neutral and the group which is not in favorable satisfaction towards the same are in small number. It can be inferred from the graph that Ramdev has to work on its variants offered to Consumers; weighted average mean is 3.07 which means there is scope to add some product variants like Salt, Besan etc.

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Promotion scheme

Ramdev promotional schemes has its graph in typical format as it is scatter in such a way that most of the responses of the consumers are equally distributed in highly satisfied, satisfied and neutral and the group which is not in favorable satisfaction towards the same are in small number. It can be inferred from the graph that Ramdev has to work on its promotional schemes to shift the above graph into most preferred by the consumers, weighted average mean is 2.89 which indicates that promotion schemes doesnt affect buying behavior of consumers to the extent company anticipates.

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Brand Name

Considering the brand name of Ramdev it is clear from the graph as well as the above responses on different parameters that Ramdev is holding good brand name in minds of consumers due to its quality and availability offered to the consumers as well as to the retailers. Ramdev has its brand recall in top of minds of consumers as noticed by the researchers while undergoing the study, weighted average mean is 4.11 which indicates association of consumers with brand name is very strong.

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7. No. of Distributors in their area

It can be clearly noticed from the above graph that Ramdev has sufficient amount of distributors as required by the retailers that is around 0-2 distributors per area.

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8. Satisfaction level towards their distributors policies. Payment

Distributors policy is not at all pleasing to the retailers as credit time given by distributors to retailers purely depend upon there relation as well as on the sales done by the retailers in particular time. Ramdev can to gain strong correlation between retailers and distributors by liberalizing its credit policy up to an extent; weighted average mean is 2.91 which supports the data in above graph.

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Replacement

Replacement policy is also not at all pleasing to the retailers, as replacement policy is not designed as per the requirements and expectations of the retailers as well as distributors. Ramdev can to gain strong correlation between retailers and distributors by modifying its replacement policy up to an extent to satisfy its distributors and also the retailers, weighted average mean is 1.95 which supports the analysis done from the graph.

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Exchange

Same applies to its exchange policy as it is also not at all pleasing to the retailers, as exchange policy is not designed as per the requirements and expectations of the retailers as well as distributors; its exchange policy clearly reflects its monopolistic attitude towards its distributors and retailers, current weighted average mean is 2.14 out of 5 which clearly shows that exchange policy needs to be reconsidered by Ramdev.

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Promotion

Ramdev promotional schemes includes limited steps as only in a year for one or two times promotional steps are undertaken with reference to its distributors, its graph scattered in such a way that most of the responses of the consumers are equally distributed in highly satisfied, satisfied and neutral and the group which is not in favorable satisfaction towards the same are in small number. It can be inferred from the graph that Ramdev has to work on its promotional schemes to shift the above graph into most preferred by the consumers, weighted average mean is 2.75 as Ramdev needs to compromise with their pricing policy.

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Credit Policy

Credit policy is not at all pleasing to the retailers as credit time given by distributors to retailers purely depend upon there relation as well as on the sales done by the retailers in particular time, weighted average mean is 2.07 which indicates that Ramdev does not give a longer credit period compared to its competitors.

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9. Assistance of Sales person of Ramdev

Assistance of sales persons of Ramdev reflects its monopolistic attitude towards its distributors as most of the responses of the retailers falls in not satisfied criteria. So Ramdev can improve its sales person assistance and gain retailers satisfaction, weighted average mean is 2.95 which shows that sales person do not support a great deal as Ramdev has a well established brand name.

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10. Factor which plays an important role in achieving sales.

When asked about the brand name as a important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to yes.

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Price

When asked about the price of the product playing as an important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to no and stressed on the quality instead of price.

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Availability

When asked about the availability of the product playing as an important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to yes, Ramdev in terms of availability was noticed to be having strong distribution network and a good brand recall.

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Loyalty

When asked about the loyalty of the product playing as an important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to yes and it was noticed by the researchers while undergoing the study that loyalty plays very important role in building up such market share as Ramdev has.

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Quality

When asked about the quality of the product playing as an important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to yes and stressed on the quality instead of price.

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Packaging

When asked about the packaging of the product playing as an important factor affecting the sales of the product it was noticed that most of the respondents answer tends to no and stressed on the quality and brand name instead of packaging.

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11. Which other products consumers buy along with the Spices.

Though it depends on the skills of retailers but consumers are buying various products along with shopping at once Along with the Blended spices consumers mostly preferred item is Instant mixes of their own brand in which consumers more buys Gulabjamun, Handvo, Dhokla etc. Apart from Instant mixes consumers also buys Hing, Pickles, Methi Masalo, Chai Masala and Various Range of Garam Masalas by Ramdev.

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12. Frequency and in which quantity consumers prefer.

100 35 gms Weekly Monthly 19 0 50 gms 37 0 0 0 gms 30 22 0 0

200 gms 3 49 7 0

250 gms 0 27 2 0

400 gms 0 33 35 18 1 kg 0 10 23 20

Quarterly 0 Annually 0

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77

From the data above we can infer that demand for particular packaging varies from the time duration of their purchasing. In case of weekly which consumers prefer 50 gms and 100 gms packaging size more as compare to other sizes.

For monthly purchases consumers prefer 200 gms to 400 gms of packing sizes as per their requirements in their family sizes.

In case of Quarterly purchase consumer give more emphasis on 400 gms pack, though there are certain number of consumers who buys in 1 kg packing sizes as well.

There are consumer who buys Ramdev spices for annually storage and they prefer packing size of 1 kg.

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Chapter-7 Hypothesis Testing

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Hypothesis Testing and Correlation between brand choose by consumers and product availability

Case Processing Summary Cases Valid N brandofspicesprefered chillipowder brandofspicesprefered Turmericpowder brandofspicesprefered Dhanajeera brandofspicesprefered * Hing 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 Percent 100.0% Missing N 0 Percent .0% Total N 335 Percent 100.0%

Case Processing Summary Cases Valid N brandofspicesprefered chillipowder brandofspicesprefered Turmericpowder brandofspicesprefered Dhanajeera brandofspicesprefered * Hing 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 100.0% 0 .0% 335 100.0% * 335 Percent 100.0% Missing N 0 Percent .0% Total N 335 Percent 100.0%

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81

brandofspicesprefered * Turmericpowder Crosstabulation Turmericpowder highly satisfied Brand of spices preferred Ramdev Everest Kitchen Express Badshah Wonder Masala spayran Masala Total 45 13 24 6 6 3 97 satisfied 76 24 42 14 10 4 170 neutral 33 10 12 6 2 1 64 highly dissatisfied Total 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 154 48 81 26 18 8 335

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Brand of spices preferred * Dhanajeera Cross tabulation Dhanajeera highly satisfied Brand of spices preferred Ramdev Everest Kitchen Express Badshah Wonder Masala spayran Masala Total 53 15 26 9 9 3 115 satisfied 65 17 27 12 3 3 127 neutral 35 12 27 5 6 2 87 dissatisfied 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 highly dissatisfied Total 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 154 48 81 26 18 8 335

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Brand of spices preferred * Hing Crosstabulation Hing highly satisfied Brand of spices preferred Ramdev Everest Kitchen Express Badshah Wonder Masala spayran Masala Total 77 17 33 9 9 6 151 satisfied 46 14 28 9 3 1 101 neutral 28 12 15 6 6 1 68 dissatisfied 2 3 2 1 0 0 8 highly dissatisfied Total 1 2 3 1 0 0 7 154 48 81 26 18 8 335

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From the above correlation matrix it has been constantly observed that the preference towards Ramdev and its availability in the area covered in scope of our project is definitely very much high followed by Kitchen Express and Everest and the satisfaction level of Badshah, Wonder Masala, Spayran Masala is comparatively very low in accordance with the responses of the retailers covered in areas of east and west Ahmedabad.

Ramdevs availability and popularity among the people/consumers as well as the retailers is high can be inferred from the correlation matrix between Brands of spices preferred and availability of the spices available in the stores of east and west Ahmedabad which is scope of researchers project.

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Case Processing Summary Cases Valid N Brand of spices preferred * Area 335 Percent 100.0% Missing N 0 Percent .0% Total N 335 Percent 100.0%

Brand of spices preferred * Area Crosstabulation Area East 1 Brand of spices preferred Ramdev Everest Kitchen Express Badshah Wonder Masala spayran Masala Total 60 7 8 4 1 1 81 East 2 21 20 42 10 5 4 102 West 1 64 5 10 5 6 1 91 West 2 9 16 21 7 6 2 61 Total 154 48 81 26 18 8 335

Chi-Square Tests Asymp. Sig. (2Value Pearson Chi-Square Likelihood Ratio Linear-by-Linear Association N of Valid Cases 106.420a 113.470 12.983 335 df 15 15 1 sided) .000 .000 .000

a. 8 cells (33.3%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1.46.

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As per the hypothesis assumed between Brands of spices preferred and the area covered by researchers.

Hypothesis: H0: No relations between availability and brands preferred in areas H1: There is strong relation between availability and brand preferred in areas

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Answer: As per the chi square test undertaken by the researchers the 2 sided slope ends to .000 it is very clear that H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted so it shows that there is strong relation between brands of spices preferred and the area in which the brands are preferred.

As per the cross tabulation analysis between the brands of the spices preferred and the area of Ahmedabad it can be inferred that the Ramdev is most preferred in East 1 and west 1 areas of Ahmedabad (refer Annexure 2 for Area classification) and Kitchen Express is more preferred in East 2 area of Ahmedabad.

Though Ramdev holds high amount of preference of consumers as well as retailers in all the areas of Ahmedabad then also Kitchen Express is holding a strong reference group in some parts of Ahmedabad like East 2. As far as the question of Wonder Masala and Badshah is concern they are preferred by minority of consumers as well as retailers in many parts of Ahmedabad as per the graph shown above.

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Chapter-8 Findings

89

Summary of Findings:

1. Product availability of Ramdev products is highest compared to other brands in the organized retail spices.

2. Ramdev is most preferred brand amongst the consumers who buys packaged blended spices.

3. Retailers mostly orders weekly or fortnightly which shows that their products are moving at very faster rate.

4. Product availability of Ramdev Hing is very low to other products as the awareness & preference towards it is very low.

5. Quality and brand name are major criteria for the consumers for buying Ramdev products, although the price is very high consumers prefer to buy the products.

6. Credit policy and replacement assistance is not up to the mark as compared to other brands.

7. Retailers found that sales person from Ramdev are not as helpful as compared to others.

8. Loyalty and quality are the factors which play important role in achieving sales for Ramdev.
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GAP Analysis
Bulk Breaking Spatial Convince Waiting & Delivery Assortment time High: Delivery on time Varity High: Capable of providing in various Packing sizes &

Level Provided

High: Customer can switch small sizes

Ok

Efficiency

High: Production & Distribution is good Scattered facilities,

High

High: Almost never High: OOS doesn't gets OOS happen so easily

Sources of Problem

variation in services provided Distributors by

Poor Communication

Poor Communication

Poor Communication

Lack of information Environmental & Lack of information in- in-house, house, and willingness willingness to improve improve and to

Continuity

in

Managerial Bound

providing Quality & healthy Product

Not all products are successful

Outcome Desired

Reduce inventories in Continuous to deliver It channel system customer

can

be

even No OOS and Give Quality Products

reduced

Tactics to Close the Proper Communication is required to meet the expectation of Retailers as well as GAP Consumers/End users

Predict Change in Sales: It is increasing year by year and able to meet all targets Channel Costs: Cost is increasing because of high cost bear by company on channel improvement Performance Profit: In terms of margin it has reduced due to competition but overall its increasing Delivery: There unique system of ready stock delivery system hardly makes them OOS

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From the above GAP analysis researchers can infer that Ramdev is having a very good Channel network which never makes them OOS (Out of Stock) and they are enjoying position of market leader. They should use various IMC tools so that they may cater more customers and grab more market share.

From the above GAP analysis we can also infer that they are leading into the market of Blended spices not all product variant of Ramdev are successful, to promote there other product variants like Hing, Achar masala they should promote more and more their products.

Geographically their territories have broaden up and overall business have increased over a period of time, and to meet the targets their cost on Channel is also increased.

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Chapter-9 Recommendation and Suggestion

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There are various suggestions that Ramdev should do to improve product availability and awareness of brand.

1. According to the feedback given by the Retailers focus should be given on increasing awareness and leverage the brand name.

2. There is a huge potential in to this industry though Ramdev is leading in market but there are lots of providers of local blended spices so there is need to reduce some price.

3. Credit policy is variable depends on the retailer; customized credit policy should be framed to inspire small retailers.

4. Assistance in the replacement of the goods should be done promptly by Ramdev.

5. Exchange is the major issue for any retailer as they are lots of problems like poor quality of goods, out of date of product etc.

6. Ramdev should also increase their product range, like they can launch new products like Salt or Besan etc. with these they can increase their Stock Keeping Unit and by this they will be having their broad consumer base.

7. Ramdev should also focus on PULL strategy along with PUSH strategy such as contests, discounts and free introductory products.

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Chapter-10 Conclusion

95

From the research undertaken it is observed by the researchers that mostly 100gms, 200gms and 500gms are preferred by the consumers so companies should focus on these packing to gain consumers preference. 1. Most preferred brand out of all brand is Ramdev, it is constantly observed in all the responses of the sample audience. 2. Comparing mean of all the brands is also in favorable to Ramdev. 3. Frequency of retailers to order all brands of spices varies from weekly to forth nightly in most of the cases 4. In all brands and products of spices, Ramdevs chili powder is most preferred. 5. As per retailers consumer give maximum importance to quality and brand name while purchasing the products. 6. Most of the retailers responded that Ramdev should loosen its policy of exchange and somewhat increase its credit time. 7. Factors affecting most to the consumers while purchasing spices is brand name, loyalty and Quality respectively.

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