RKT HAS GOOD DEMAND IN NORTH BENGAL: SWAPAN SAHA
For the past 10 years, M/s Swapan Kumar Saha, based in Siliguri, West Bengal, has been supplying RKT products from Siliguri to North Bengal, mainly covering Cooch Behar, Malda, Kishanganj, Islampur, and the entire Darjeeling region. Speaking to Sugandh India, Swapan Saha, head of the firm, said that RKT’s 400-gram zipper pack, jar dhoop sticks, and several other products are very popular in the region. He added that after meeting Mr Bharat Thakral of RKT, his firm has maintained a strong and long-standing association with the company.
Responding to a question, he said that he earlier worked in an agarbatti company, and later entered the agarbatti business in 1998. In 2014, he established his firm under the name Swapan Kumar Saha, after acquiring the agency for Savitri (Bengaluru) as his first brand. Subsequently, he got the distribution of RKT, and today also handles agencies of Sadguru Agarbatti Industries, Jayant Products (Indore), and Aradhya (Ahmedabad). In addition, hedistributes products of Moksh, Darshan International, and other pooja products. The firm operates in both wholesale and retail segments.Swapan Kumar Saha told Sugandh India that North Bengal has a very strong agarbatti market, while bamboo-less products account for only 5–10%, though this segment is gradually growing. He said that ₹20 and ₹50 packs record the highest sales in the region. For ₹10 packs, customers prefer higher weight packs containing around 30–40 sticks. The premium segment accounts for only 2–3%, while mediumrange products sell the most.
Answering another question, he said that the top-selling brands in the region include Moksh, Darshan International, ITC, Aradhya, RKT, Zed Black, Balaji, Forest, and Cycle. The market for wet and dry dhoop is almost equal. In wet dhoop, Moksh, ITC, and Manthan sell the most. Balaji’s zipper-packed dhoop, positioned in the premium range, also performs well. Balaji’s agarbatti, especially in rose, sandalwood, and saffron fragrances, sells well. BIC products are also in demand, while the market for Big Bell is growing rapidly.
Responding to questions about the Siliguri market, he said that in camphor, brands such as 333 (Geeta Products), Saraswati, Mangalam, and the local brand Ganesh sell well. The market for loose camphor is quite limited, as most customers prefer branded camphor. Demand for Bhimseni camphor is also increasing. In pooja oil, Meena International (Kolkata) performs well in both economy and premium segments, along with Geeta Products, Pitambari (Mumbai), and Deep Shakti. In chandan tika, DroliaAshtagandh Roli (Kolkata) sells well, while Balaji’s chandan performs strongly in the premium segment. He further said that in attar, Gandhi Herbal (Indore) has strong demand at his counters. In sambrani cups, Big Bell, Bansuri, and Naivedya sell well. On average, a customer in the Siliguri market spends ₹400–₹500 per month on incense and allied products. At the counters, customers often ask for Balaji and RKT products by name. He also mentioned that in mosquito agarbatti, Siliguri-based Lock Down brand sells very well at his counters, along with several other products.
