From Farm to Factory: An Interview with Shrey Gupta of Dhampure Specialty Sugars Ltd

An interview with Shrey Gupta, Executive Director of Dhampure Specialty Sugars Ltd., an innovation-driven, specialty Sugar Manufacturer

In this insightful interview, Shrey Gupta, Executive Director of Dhampure Specialty Sugars Ltd., shares his vision for the future of specialty sugar manufacturing.

He discusses the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and quality, highlighting how Dhampure is redefining the sugar industry landscape.

Can you share the story behind the founding of Dhampur Green and what inspired you to enter the specialty sugar market?

Shrey Gupta: Established in 1992, Dhampure Speciality Sugars Ltd. was one of the earliest players of packaged sulphurless sugar in the organised market.

The name of our company originates from the place that our family belongs to- Dhampur, in Western UP,one of the most fertile and in the heart of the largest sugar belt of the country. We had been one of the largest manufacturers of unrefined sugar and Gur. In 2015, we decided to pivot.

We realised that the modern Indian consumer was seeking alternatives to refined white sugar and looking for healthier options. This opened our eyes to the potential gur, desi-khand, bura, etc. have in the rapidly transforming Indian consumer landscape.

We decided to put all our focus into bringing these indigenous unrefined sugars to the forefront of the Indian market. And this is how Dhampur Green was born. Ever since, we haven’t looked back. 

What are the key differentiators of Dhampur Green’s products compared to other sugar manufacturers in India?

Shrey Gupta: I am going to breakdown my answer into some points for you-

Sustainable Farm to Fork Model-

Our entire supply chain is integrated. Right from procuring the best quality sugarcane to the processing, packaging, marketing and delivery is all done by us. Therefore we have complete control over the quality of our products.

Focus on R&D-

Dhampur Green has been a pioneer in bringing jaggery to the modern consumer shelves. There were certain limitations with making Gur accessible all-year round and maintaining the quality.

We dedicated ourselves towards intense R&D to ensure that jaggery retains its quality and form even in the heat of Indian summer and humidity of the monsoon. Hence our products and packaging are always intensely tested and researched before they reach the consumers kitchen.

Innovation-

we as a company are chief believers of innovation. We have not stopped at developing one successful product.

True to our company name, we have constantly endeavoured to develop our range of speciality sugars by adding forgotten sweeteners like Desi-Khand, Bura, Sheera etc. and also developing a range of ready to eat sweets and snacks

Purity, Quality and Strict adherence to safety standards-

Dhampur Green is at the forefront of the clean-label and organic products market in India. We have all major clean-label and organic certifications required by the major food regulation bodies in India and globally.

We are not only present in Indian retail shelves, but also across some of the leading chains in the USA and Canada. Everyone is aware of how stringent the US FDA is, and our products meet all of their safety standards.

Social and Environmental Sustainability-

We believe that running a company is not merely about business but about creating an ecosystem which benefits all its entities- be it the farmers who supply us the best quality of sugarcane crop, the employees who are dependent on our company for our livelihood, the contractors and service providers who rely on us, or the customers who trust us to give the best product for their hard earned money.

As a family, we are heavily invested and involved in the education and upliftment of children, especially girls, in rural Dhampur, where our manufacturing units are. Any worker who is employed by us is entitled to free education for their children at our not-for-profit schools in the area.

We have strong generational ties with the farming community in the region to ensure that they receive fair trade prices and adequate financial and technical support.

Second I come to environmental sustainability.

A large part of our manufacturing units are powered by solar electricity. We have installed affluent treatment plants and smoke arrestors to control emissions.

We do composting of our organic waste which leads to better soil health. We have planted several acres of tree to support the local environment systems. We ensure that as a company we produce minimal environmental waste.

What role does innovation play in your product development, and can you share any recent innovations from Dhampur Green?

Shrey Gupta: Like I mentioned previously, we as a company are chief believers of innovation. Our product range is as much a culmination of innovation, as it is of pure passion.

Our goal is simple- we want to show our consumer how the use of jaggery actually makes any food item far tastier if you just replace the sugar in it. Our jaggery based snacks and sweets range is just an attempt at doing that.

Other than jaggery, we also have several other SKU’s such as Desi khand, bura sugar, demerera sugar etc. which are also natural and minimally processed sweeteners.

Which one the consumer wants depends ultimately on personal tastes and preferences. We are also constantly innovating our packaging to ensure that our products retain their flavour and nutritional value.

Our vacuum packed jaggery cubes were a game-changer in the market for sweeteners as they improved the shelf life of jaggery and made it so much more market-friendly.

What are your strategic goals for Dhampur Green over the next five years?

Shrey Gupta: We are in the midst of exciting times in the retail space in India. Currently our focus is on expanding our geographical presence to the Tier 2 and 3 cities in India. That is where the biggest urban boom is happening.

We are seeing the same consumption pattern as Tier 1 cities emerge in the smaller towns as well, ofcourse fuelled by the massive digitisation of the economy.

We are also focused on taking Dhampur Green big internationally- especially in the USA and Canada, where there is a big Indian Diaspora which is looking for top quality indigenous jaggery, desi khand etc.

We are also investing in the most up to date machinery and expanding our facilities to meet the consumer demand. We are constantly investing in R&D to ensure that our products are in sync with the evolving market. 

How do you see the impact of international trade policies on the specialty sugar industry in India?

Shrey Gupta: With Trump’s announcement of the US import tariffs, there is definitely a lot of uncertainty in the international markets right now.

It is going to be interesting to see how this pans out. Luckily India is a sugar-exporting nation and hence self-reliant. However, geopolitical instability or sanctions can definitely affect business at large and cause international price volatility.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the food and beverage sector?

Shrey Gupta: I would say- sky is the limit when it comes to The F&B sector. However, it is very important to maintain quality and innovation as well as to stay financially prudent.

In today’s age of start-ups and seed funding, a lot of new companies have very deep pockets to burn cash just in marketing. Instead of focusing on product quality, they are majorly investing in customer acquisition by offering heavy discounts and through digital bombardment.

One should avoid that and try to take a more long term organic growth route by investing in the best food technology, up to date infrastructure and sound sourcing of raw materials to ensure that the product that reaches your consumers table is actually superior.

Shrey Gupta’s insights reveal the dynamic nature of the specialty sugar market. His leadership at Dhampure Specialty Sugars Ltd. not only emphasizes innovation but also underscores the importance of sustainability, positioning the company as a key player in shaping the future of the sugar industry.

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