Retailers make a beeline for agri varsities now

THE search for a new kind of talent in retail has boiled over to colleges and varsities. With fresh produce and commodities forming a chunk of the trade, retailers are making a beeline to various agricultural universities and specialised educational institutions to hire. Graduates with technical knowledge on agri-sourcing are the most sought after as retailers look to streamline the procurement of produce, ensure quality and have an efficient back-end. Players like Spencer’s, Food Bazaar and Spinach have hired fresh graduates with specialisation in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. Damodar Mall, president & CEO, Food Business division of the Kishore Biyani-owned Future Group, said the group has tied up with universities and colleges across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Punjab offering specialisation in agri-business. The hiring is pertinent for formats like Food Bazaar — the food and grocery format of Future. “Over the last three years, there have been an increase in the number of graduates recruited from these colleges,” said Mr Mall. “Apart from commodity sourcing, the students have a good understanding of category management. With the technical background, they are playing an important role in ensuring an efficient back end,” said Mr Mall. The talent pool is being tapped in institutions like Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Hyderabad, National Institute of Agricultural Marketing, Jaipur and Institute of Agri Business Management, Bikaner. The move just doesn’t stop at picking up fresh graduates from universities; retailers like Food Bazaar are also working closely with local agri universities, helping them create customised curriculum relevant to modern trade. “With modern trade taking off, retailers like us can contribute some learning we have acquired from running retail operations,” explains Mr Mall. Similarly, formats like Spinach stores, from Wadhawan Retail, owned by the Dewan Housing Finance Group, has started picking graduates and the numbers, according to Spinach Dippankar CEO Halder, will increase as the format expands across the country. “Around 35% of our business is perishables and fresh food. Thus there is a need for expertise to handle these segments. Right now, it is a mix of experience and fresh graduates but soon we will institutionalise the process and recruit directly from campus,” said Mr Halder, adding that in the coming days the retail format plans to hire more than 100 people with experience in relevant segments. The need for expertise in food & agriculture, poultry, fisheries and animal husbandry comes as Spinach is planning to set up goat farms and fish ponds. “With Kolkata and Delhi next, we will setting up centres of excellence in each of the regional centres. Therefore, both at the senior and ground level, relevant expertise will be needed to ensure a smooth supply of necessary products,” said Mr Halder. It is this relevant expertise which has also prompted formats like Trumart to look at hiring from colleges specialising in agri studies. Upamanyu Bhattacharya, CEO of Trumart, says that it is looking to hire students from institutions in Bikaner and Jaipur for specific functions like buying from mandis and third party procurement. While the new recruits bring with them knowledge of the segments, retailers are training them to understand and integrate the back end with the front end of retailing. Mr Mall said the sourcing and back end efficiencies have to be in tune with the requirement at the point of sale. “While they may be handling the supply chain, orientation in terms of marketing and sales operations is needed as they come in handy when it comes to aspects like procurement,” he said.

Courtesy: EconomicTimes

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