Sanjay Ghodawat Group’s Consumer and Retail Divisions Eye Robust Expansion

Kolhapur: Founded in 1993 by Sanjay Ghodawat, the Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG) operates in aviation, consumer products, education, energy, realty, and retail. Its FMCG arm, Ghodawat Consumer Limited (GCL), is driving expansion with brands like Star, Coolberg, and To Be Honest (TBH).

Shrenik Ghodawat, Managing Director of Sanjay Ghodawat Group, emphasises Star Localmart’s premiumisation and its role in reaching Tier II-VI towns.

Shrenik Ghodawat, MD, SGG

"We aim to connect with customers daily, expanding modern retail touchpoints while deploying 10,000 vending machines over the next five years," said Shrenik.

GCL opened supermarkets as a brand, offering nearly 1,500 SKUs.

GCL has also expanded its product portfolio through acquisitions, including non-alcoholic beverage brand Coolberg and healthy snacking label TBH. "These brands align with our vision of offering healthier options to consumers," Salloni Ghodawat noted. 

GCL focuses on "good for you, better for you" products, emphasising healthy kids' snacks like low-fat, high-vitamin A sweet potato chips, a health and wellness focus that aligns with their goal of reaching Rs 5,000 crore in revenue within five years.

Geographically, the sky is the limit. 

Star Localmart operates a mom-and-pop kirana store model in rural markets with 15,000 residents, aiming for 200+ low-cost supermarkets by year-end. It stocks 50 per cent national, 30 per cent regional, and 20 per cent local brands. The company opened 40+ stores in Q4 last year, claims to be the only expanding retail chain, and grew its workforce from 250–300 to nearly 700, including 400 local jobs. It projects 2,500 employees by the 2025–2026 financial year. Stores, about 1,500 square feet, carry 7,000 unique SKUs, with at least 2,500 per store, focusing on concentrated geographies, says Srinivas Kolluru, Business Head, Ghodawat Retail Pvt. Ltd, citing rural success.

The company started with edible oil in 2003, succeeding in rural India, but, recognising the oil market's volatility, found a niche in non-basmati rice.

 The crux of the matter: these are the key products. We will introduce new innovations.

"We have built a robust network and collaborated with DDB to revamp our packaging to appeal more to customers," Salloni said. 

Salloni cited Starbucks' success in Kolhapur as evidence of growing consumer interest in new experiences, even in smaller cities.

The group explores zero-calorie drinks, probiotics, and vegan products, prioritising innovation and Jain principles. The company supports government nutritional labeling initiatives, advocating transparency while maintaining a 40 per cent female workforce.

STAR Rice Unveils New Packaging and Swiss-Tech Processing for Enhanced Purity

Ghodawat Consumer Ltd. (GCL), the FMCG arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group, has launched news packaging for its STAR Rice range, introducing advanced Swiss-technology processing to ensure unparalleled purity and hygiene. The fully automated, contactless system sorts grains by size, shape, and texture, eliminating human touch and preventing adulteration, setting a new standard for rice quality in India. While the original STAR Rice packaging remains in the market, this newly designed pack offers consumers more choice in how they experience one of their daily essentials.

Salloni Ghodawat, CEO of GCL, emphasized, “In an era where health and hygiene are paramount, packed rice is a smarter, safer choice. Our revamped STAR Rice combines modern processing with consumer trust, delivering staples that are simple, smart, and future-ready.”

Available in 5 kg packs of STAR Jeera Rice, STAR Sona Masoori, and STAR Lachkari Kolam, the rice is now sold across Mumbai, Pune, South Maharashtra, and North Karnataka. The tamper-proof, ultra-hygienic packaging and rigorous quality checks ensure consistent taste, texture, and aroma, making it ideal for daily meals and festive occasions.

This initiative supports GCL’s goal to lead the staples market, targeting a ?5,000 crore topline in five years by expanding into Tier 3 to Tier 6 markets. With a portfolio spanning essentials and premium brands like TBH and Coolberg, GCL serves over 250,000 outlets in 120 cities and exports to 17 countries.