Exclusive Interview | Laksh Yadav, CEO, Cocoberry India
/“It takes patience, consistency, and quality as a whole to succeed in the industry”
Editor: Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
With the brand, my adventure in an individual place was pretty enjoyable and humorous. I was a franchisee, but I had earned a lot of trusts, and at the age of 18, I established my own outlet, which was a huge success. Then I launched my second outlet in Gurgaon's Galleria market, on very expensive real estate, and it worked really well. I eventually took over the company, and that's how it all began. One thing I'd like to mention is the brand's trustworthiness and stability.
Editor: What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
In FMCG retail, it takes patience, consistency, and quality. As a whole, all the finance, operations, supply chain marketing, and sales should have a very strong integration and foundation. And most importantly, research. Unless you know your market and customer needs, it is very difficult to move ahead. Understanding them plays a crucial role, along with all the other basic steps that an entrepreneur starts with.
Editor: What are some of the trends you see impacting the F & B industry?
Some of the trends we have been seeing, and one of the biggest was on the NDTV platform, which disrupted the market and, in one case, an increase, but ultimately the cash flows and commissions that we pay to Swiggy, Zomato, and the delivery partners, the net profitability was reduced.
The industry is rapidly moving toward innovation. The next big thing is going to be technology advancements, which will play an increasingly essential role in the industry. When it comes to customer convenience, companies have begun to draw connections, and the race to dominate online grocery shopping is on.
Editor: What has forever changed due to COVID and what will never change?
COVID-19 brought about the most significant shift in terms of hygiene, and all of the manufacturers tried to improve their packaging as well. This was a much-needed change, and know that customers and the general public have accepted it, it has become a permanent, long-overdue change.
Editor: What is your favorite interview question and why?
In personal space, my favorite question would be about the journey and how it started because it reminds me of the love and efforts that have gone into developing this brand and offering it to our customers, but as a brand, it would definitely be about the expansion plans as it is the stepping stone to our growth.
Editor: What can we look forward to from Cocoberry in the coming months?
In the coming months, Cocoberry is expected to launch in various cities, and that is the plan for now. And as we have stated in our previous releases, we will be expanding aggressively. The continuous love from our customers, who have stayed loyal to the brand and its tasteful offerings even during the pandemic, has encouraged us to take the brand to the next level with an immediate expansion by the end of 2021.
