Leaders in the jaggery industry play a pivotal role in navigating a landscape marked by unique challenges and burgeoning demands. The industry, deeply rooted in tradition, faces hurdles such as shelf-life constraints and varying international standards. Competent leaders must adeptly tackle these challenges, leveraging technological innovations and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure quality production. With a growing awareness of health-conscious consumer preferences, leaders need to address the increasing demand for natural sweeteners like jaggery.
Kader Arafath is an astute and data-driven entrepreneur, bringing a unique blend of analytical skills and a passion for agribusiness to the forefront. Armed with a mechanical engineering degree from BITS, Pilani, and a master's in product development engineering from the University of Southern California, USA, his journey reflects a commitment to innovation. Born into a family deeply rooted in manufacturing and selling jaggery for four decades in Coimbatore, Kader's return to India in 2014 marked a pivotal shift.
Taking over the family business as the Managing Director, AKS Trading Corporation, he spear- headed collaborations with sugarcane farmers and jaggery producers, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance yield and quality. In 2017, Kader founded Relish Jaggery, aiming to position jaggery as a direct alternative to white sugar, introducing a range of natural and value-added products that showcases his dedication to revolutionizing the jaggery industry.
AKS Trading Corporation
AKS Trading Corporation, under the leadership of Kader, has emerged as a prominent player in the jaggery industry. Recognizing the pivotal challenge of limited shelf life in jaggery production, AKS Trading Corporation strategically focuses on sourcing superior raw materials, particularly high-quality sugarcane, to ensure an extended shelf life.
The company's production processes adhere to rigorous standards, ensuring the product meets international regulations and testing parameters. As a result, AKS Trading Corporation has garnered a strong foothold in global markets, especially in Gulf countries, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Singapore, where the demand for their premium jaggery has surged. With a fast-moving product and increasing orders, the company is positioned as a reliable supplier, balancing quality and efficiency in the dynamic jaggery market. “In navigating the complexities of international jaggery exports, my team and I at AKS Trading Corporation prioritize seamless communication and understanding with our partners, especially considering that most are fellow Indians.
Adapting to diverse food safety standards across destinations, we meticulously test our products against the stringent FSSAI specifications of India, ensuring a solid foundation for meeting other countries' requirements,” informs Kader.
Innovative Triumphs in Jaggery Production
In the realm of jaggery production, AKS Trading Corporation stands as a pioneering force, spearheading innovations to overcome the notorious challenge of moisture content in this traditional sweetener. Implementing a cutting-edge triple filtration process, the company has successfully reduced moisture levels significantly, ensuring an extended shelf life for their jaggery products.
This approach has been systematically applied across all production units, showcasing a commitment to quality and technological advancement. “In our relentless pursuit of product excellence at AKS Trading Corporation, we've innovatively tackled the moisture challenge in jaggery powder by resorting to filtration or drying. Without these measures, moisture swiftly affects the powder's quality, causing coagulation akin to clay. Through our advanced processes, the powder maintains its individual granular form, ensuring a significantly extended shelf life of more than six months, offering consumers a convenient and lasting alternative to white sugar,” asserts Kader.
Beyond moisture control, AKS has embraced the wave of innovation in the jaggery market, contributing to the creation of value-added products like cookies, candies, pastries, chocolates, and ice creams under their Relish brand. The company aligns with the evolving trends in food science and technology, anticipating a future where jaggery continues to soar in popularity, driven by research and development initiatives focusing on novel combinations with millets. Furthermore, AKS is actively involved in collaborative efforts with institutions such as the Coimbatore Sugarcane Institute, working towards agricultural innovations that promise quicker yields and increased prosperity for farmers, thereby propelling the jaggery industry into new heights.
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Technological Evolution
In the evolving landscape of jaggery production, the industry, including AKS Trading Corporation, recognizes the indispensable role of technology. From the advent of semi-automatic to fully automatic plants, state-of-the-art packaging machinery, and widespread distribution through e-commerce platforms, jaggery has seamlessly integrated technology into its processes. While maintaining a commitment to its traditional roots, there is a strategic focus on technological advancements to position jaggery as a formidable alternative to artificial sweeteners.
AKS Trading Corporation, aligning with this trajectory, contemplates the establishment of a semi-automatic plant, recognizing the importance of human intervention in preserving the innate texture and taste of jaggery. As the industry witnesses an influx of brands on e-commerce platforms and even makes inroads into premium establishments like five-star hotels, the future of jaggery appears destined for further technological integration and widespread adoption.
The Robust Way Ahead
The future of jaggery, spearheaded by AKS Trading Corporation, promises robust competition against artificial sweeteners, anticipating a swift rise in popularity among health-conscious consumers. However, to ensure this upward trajectory, government support for farmers, especially regarding fair pricing for sugarcane, palm trees, and coconut products the core components of jaggery production is imperative. AKS Trading Corporation looks ahead with confidence, poised for a promising future in the global jaggery market.
“AKS Trading Corporation envisions a global footprint for its renowned brand, Relish Jaggery, as we actively pursue international markets. With recent successful shipments to the U.S. marking our initial foray, we are steadfast in our mission to introduce Relish and other premium jaggery products to diverse regions worldwide. As we export our quality offerings to various brands, the focus on establishing Relish as a leading natural sweetener on the global stage remains a top priority,” concludes Kader.
Kader Arafath, Managing Director, AKS Trading Corporation
Kader Arafath, the innovative and visionary Managing Director of AKS Trading Corporation, has transformed the jaggery industry by pioneering advancements in production processes. Armed with a mechanical engineering degree and a master's in product development engineering, Kader's commitment to innovation and dedication to quality have positioned AKS Trading Corporation as a prominent player in the global jaggery market, with a focus on introducing Relish Jaggery as a leading natural sweetener worldwide.
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