ShopKirana’s Sprint to Success: The Ready, Steady, Heady Journey of Founder Sumit Ghorawat

Sumit Ghorawat‘s fascination with the phrase “ready, steady, go” from his school days took a profound turn into the world of entrepreneurship, leading to the creation of ShopKirana. In a captivating journey marked by resilience and strategic expansion, Sumit Ghorawat, along with co-founders Deepak Dhanotiya and Tanutejas Saraswat, transformed ShopKirana from a local player to a thriving B2B supply chain platform for mom-and-pop stores.

Steady Beginnings in Indore:

Founded in Indore in 2015, ShopKirana started modestly, working with a handful of kirana (mom-and-pop) stores. The team’s decision to stay rooted in Indore for four years allowed them to refine their business model, understand the intricacies of the market, and establish a robust foundation for future growth. Closing FY18 with a revenue of Rs8.92 crore, ShopKirana was poised for the next phase of expansion. In December 2018, Info Edge, known for backing Zomato, recognized ShopKirana’s potential and invested $2 million in the startup. This capital injection paved the way for ShopKirana’s entry into Bhopal and Jaipur, resulting in a remarkable spike in revenue. The FY19 revenue soared to Rs24.4 crore, setting the stage for a Series B round of $10 million in August 2019.

Exponential Growth and Pandemic Resilience:

The subsequent expansion into five more cities, coupled with a Series B funding, fuelled ShopKirana’s revenue to skyrocket, reaching over Rs200 crore by March-end FY20. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ShopKirana’s focus on technology adoption and streamlined operations doubled its revenue to over Rs400 crore a year after the lockdown.

Unlocking Kirana Potential with Technology:

ShopKirana’s success aligns with a broader trend of technology-led modernization in India’s kirana segment. With approximately 13 million kirana stores, accounting for 88% of FMCG sales, the sector presented an untapped opportunity for startups. ShopKirana addressed various pain points for kiranas, including inventory management, cost reduction, pricing transparency, and support for credit, GST, and digital payments.

Private Labels and X Factor:

ShopKirana’s foray into private labels emerged as a strategic masterstroke. Introducing in-house brands like ‘Kisan Kirana,’ ‘Safoya,’ and ‘Clean and Bold’ proved highly successful, contributing Rs100 crore to the FY21 sales. Leveraging insights from kiranas, ShopKirana filled gaps in the market, offering high-quality, affordable products directly sourced from farmers.

While ShopKirana’s private labels have flourished, challenges lie ahead. Maintaining product quality and transitioning from push to pull marketing are crucial aspects for sustained success. Additionally, potential competition from industry giants like ITC and HUL could pose threats. However, ShopKirana’s nimbleness, close kirana connections, and cost-effective distribution give it a competitive edge.

Conclusion:

Sumit Ghorawat’s leadership, coupled with ShopKirana’s innovative approach, has positioned the company as a frontrunner in the kirana-tech segment. With plans for a heady expansion into 30 Tier II cities, ShopKirana is poised to unlock new frontiers, empowered by the lessons of readiness, steadiness, and a heady growth trajectory. As ShopKirana propels forward, it epitomizes the spirit of agility and resilience in India’s rapidly evolving start-up landscape.