Leaders

GroStop is a new generation retail outlet and D2C platform for all daily food requirements such as fruits, vegetables, staples, dairy, bread, chicken, among others. It is designed specifically for consumers in small towns (Tier 3-6), where contemporary merchants have yet to penetrate. SMP Agro Processing & Cold Storage Pvt. Ltd. promotes GroStop as its market linking arm. It has been collaborating with female agropreneurs and assisting smallholding farmers to market their agricultural produce locally within 40-50 kilometers of small towns, in an organised retail setting. From the last 24 months, GroStop has been assisting small town health enthusiasts in meeting their objectives of having all conceivable alternatives for exotic veggies and imported fruits, off season fruits and vegetables, and low calorie dairy products, among other things.

In an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine, Sukanya Chakravorty walks us through her personal and professional journey along with the unique traits of the company:

Take Us Through Your Early Educational Journey And Prior Industry Experience That You Bring To The Table. What Motivated You To Establish This Firm?

After graduating with the same stream from Garden City College in Bangalore, I, like any other middle-class Indian student, aspired to further my study in Biotechnology. However, owing to my father's unanticipated health difficulties as the lone earning member of our family of three sisters and no brother, I was forced to adapt to the circumstance. Leaving my own desire aside, I seized the first work chance that presented itself, and within a few days, I was a competent banker, assisting Bangalore and Mumbai customers in managing their company and fortune. I returned to a little village in Ranchi, where, to my astonishment, there were none that matched my work profile and experience. It was then that I realised that if I am unable to complete my job search in a small town setting, how would many people like me and rural women become financially independent in the uncertain times of the twenty-first century?

In 2017, I founded SMP Agro, which stands for "Sampoorna Mahila Pragati" in Hindi. Small ideas began to gain traction, and soon a large number of young aspirational adolescents, largely women, joined. It meant commercial solutions for smallholder farmers, and we collaborated to build GroStop, which connects horticultural produce. During the Pandemic, GroStop was recognised as an important District Administration Initiative, wherein, we attempted to assist both farmers and small-town customers.

What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Grostop? What Are Some Of The Most Challenging Aspects Of Your Role And How Do You Overcome Them?

GroStop is like a tiny baby for all of us here, especially our farmers, that we must nourish, grow, and make a stand strong against all huge and deep-pocketed competitors. My position is that of a mentor, inspiring the team - both new and old – and keeping them focused on the fundamental aim of why we established GroStop in the first place. There is a razor-thin margin for getting caught up in the standard retail quandary of optimizing GMV, lowering burn rate, enhancing profitability, and reducing perishable losses.It is quite simple and rational to adapt to the same rescue tools (like most retailers utilise) while transitioning from farmers market to Grocery / FMCG Kirana Dukan. Every day, I remind myself of our pledges to farmers, primarily rural women from agricultural areas whom we affectionately refer to as 'Bharat Ki Lakshmi,' and this helps me and my team stay focused on our primary objective and mission.

Tell Us About The Varied Expertise That You Possess As An Entrepreneur. How Has Your Prior Industry Experience Helped You In Your Current Role As The Co-Founder At Grostop?

Entrepreneurship is, in my opinion, one of the most difficult jobs one can embark on his or her life. If we need to simplify and ease our approach, most difficult issues may be addressed by being inclusive, sympathetic to others, and reaching out to everyone who comes our way. I feel I possess the aforementioned characteristics, and I was quite successful throughout my time as a banker. One of the reasons that I was able to relate to my clients' needs and approached is I look it were my own. I maintained believing the same aspect till today, and it has considerably aided me.

What Have Been The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved So Far In Your Professional Journey? What Is Your Guiding Leadership Philosophy?

The most significant accomplishment for the whole GroStop family was assisting a huge number of farmers in marketing their goods during difficult times. It was during periods when they were really anxious about their financial situation. GroStop, as a covid warrior, also addressed doorstep demands for daily critical runs for Ranchi's elderly and ailing customers. My leadership attitude is to lead from the front, showcasing the job being done rather than holding team meetings and exposing oneself to field level difficulties and ideas.

“My leadership attitude is to lead from the front, showcasing the job being done rather than holding team meetings and exposing oneself to field level difficulties and ideas”

How Do You Keep Yourself Well Aligned With The Periodic Evolutions Occurring Within Your Respective Field Of Work?

I check in and out with my team on a regular basis to keep myself up to date on day-to-day operations. GroStop has created a sophisticated IT-enabled MIS framework that assists the leadership team in overseeing and monitoring company performance and responding to early signals, if any.

As A Successful Entrepreneur What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women And Girls Who Aspire To Become Business Leaders And Entrepreneurs In The Future?

My advice to all aspiring business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future is that we should not establish a mental gap between male and female genders. I'd want to be referred to as CEO rather than Female CEO. There is nothing we cannot contribute to, yet there is still a significant gender imbalance when it comes to women as agriculture leaders. However, I am certain that we are rapidly closing the gap, and that such debates will become a thing of the past. Quote: GroStop has created a sophisticated IT-enabled MIS framework that assists the leadership team in overseeing and monitoring company performance and responding to early signals, if any.

Sukanya Chakravorty, Co-Founder, Grostop

A passionate entrepreneur with a vision to collaborate with women farming communities, Sukanya co-founded GroStop - a modern retail chain in fresh Fruits & Vegetables in 2019. Through SMP Agro & GroStop her efforts are focused towards women empowerment, sustainable and financial betterment of rural areas, and growth of our nation.