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| Ramachandran Ottapath, Managing Director, Choppies, Botswana |
“I take pride in introducing Kerala’s produce in a foreign land. You may even consider it a passion. My aim is to introduce still more products from Kerala,” so says Ramachandran Ottapath, Managing Director of Choppies, the supermarket chain in the African nation of Botswana.
Like the love for his native land, he entertains a love for his adopted workplace too. His network sells millets, beans and grams produced by the farmers of Botswana. In fact, these stores provide a venue for commerce in most native goods. Perhaps this interest in the welfare of the local producers is the reason why he has been accepted as a benefactor of farmers of the land.
The Rs.1000-crore turnover supermarket has 42 outlets with about 300 employees. Of these, 200 are from his native place, Thrissur.
To the son of a weaver, opportunities were limited, but not self confidence. Starting as an employee in Appolo Tyres, he soon landed in Botswana thanks to the help of a friend. Although initial conditions weren’t favourable, his turning point came when he befriended Farook Ismail, of Indian origin. Without any money in his pocket, Ramachandran planned Choppies with the help of his friend. As the venture grew, it diversified into packing, furniture, warehouse, transport etc.
Earlier, for security reasons, shops of Botswana used to down their shutters by 6 pm. Choppies kept their establishments open first up to 8.30 pm and later 10 pm. This prompted other merchants to follow suit. In order to sell native agricultural produce, Choppies started working on Sundays too. Thus Choppies made supermarkets a social place.
According to him, bringing up in two brothers and two sisters after the death of his father was a task he could achieve only because of his self confidence, initiative and hard work.
Courtesy:
M.P.Surendran,
Mathrubhumi, June 25, 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
