From Raw materials to finished products GT Group has everything under one roof: Ankit Doshi
-GT group’s businesses spans across 9 industries including trading, realty and polymers
Established in Chennai in 1967 by Late Kantilal Doshi, GT group in a span of over 50 years has spread its business empire globally across 9 different verticles including trading, manufacturing, polymers, realty, education and cold storage. Over the past 25 years the group has been supplying the industry with high grade raw materials along with packaging solutions. The clientele being the top brands of agarbatti industry.The group claim to have all the necessary know-how to create a brand from-the-scratch for those interested to enter the Dhoop–Agarbatti–Sambrani market. All you need is an idea and GT group will do the rest. Along with creating a finished product for the clients, the company also lays down the marketing strategies for brand building.
Ankit Doshi, the third generation CEO in an exclusive interview with Sugandh India said, “For the agarbatti industry, we have everything under one roof, be it raw materials or fragrance or even packaging solutions. Anyone who wishes to step into this industry, we can arrange everything for them that a brand needs from production to establishing itself in the market.”
Talking about the business he said “, Apart from our headquarters in Chennai, we have branch offices across Pune, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Madurai, Kolkata and Delhi. Our main unit being in Chennai is spread over 2,00,000 sq. ft with a production capacity of around 1,00,000 kg per month. We have smaller manufacturing plants in; Madurai, Pondicherry, Tirupattur and Virudnagar. We have our own brand with the name GT products that is sold across 19 states including; Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab & Haryana.
As per Mr. Doshi, sambrani is their area of expertise. 80% of their product portfolio consists of sambrani products while rest being agarbatti and other related products.
He added,“Sambrani and bamboo-less agarbatti are growing in demand. The future is bright.” He said “, However, sambrani and bamboo-less products will not completely replace agarbattis. Speculations are that 10 per cent market share will go to such products and even that is a big number”
Ankit informed that they are specialists in Sambrani products. Sambrani is organic and follows the Unani system for production with 25 different type of natural ingredients. “We were the first to come up with the idea of the Sambrani Cup,” he claimed. “Our Flower Pot Sambrani Cup The first Sambrani Cup brand. The desire to innovate and try something different led to birth of cup shape of Sambrani. However, the shape is the only difference between a cup and a normal sambrani.”
Talking about exports, Mr.Doshi informed.“GT exports to around 12 countries with an extensive market in; Mauritius, Madagascar, Malaysia, Singapore, France and Australia. Though the fragrance prefered abroad is different from domestic but our sambrani products are the same for domestic as well as overseas markets.”
Speaking on the changes in the incense market Mr. Doshi said “, Post-COVID, people are more health conscious. They prefer chemical-free and natural products.” Explaining further he said “, Shortage of raw materials has doubled the price. Thanks to the oversized and complicated market where the competition no-more makes sense. It’s a challenge of a different level. This is the reason enough to focus more on overseas markets.
We are brainstorming the domestic scene. We will find a solution.”
‘Sugandh India’ met GT’s Group CEO at the recently concluded ‘AIMA Expo 2022’ in Bangalore. He was elated being invited there. Speaking about the expo Ankit said “, Expos in the past were all about giving a big show. This time it was different. The focus was more on raw materials and types of machinery. Moreover, the whole experience was interactive with lots of Q&A sessions along with problem-solving rounds.”
Tiger of the market
Late Sanghvi Kantilal Doshi , the founder of GT Group was a visionary leader who through his hard work and dedication established 9 business verticals under the group. Mr. Sanghvi Kantilal Doshi, a respected personality across the domestic and international markets, started his journey from the grass root level. Born on 6 August 1943 in Badgaon, a village in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, Kantilal ji completed his PUC in 1960 and started working in his uncle’s shop in Sumairpur. In 1961, with just Rs. 50 in his pocket he moved to Mumbai and worked in a garment shop for six months. He came to Chennai in 1964 and worked in a company for 3 years. Finally in 1967 he started his business under the name of General Traders and from there he never looked back and expanded into various business verticals including trading, realty, manufacturing, polymers, education and cold storage. Mr. Sanghvi Kantilal Doshi was called ‘Tiger of the Market’. Apart from business, he was actively involved in service to the society and religion.
