Arshad Hussain
Director
Anything food, freshness & hygiene is the name of the game. Being one of the largest raw mango traders & fruit supply companies in both the commercial and local markets in India for over 50 years, Tasa has been able to build the largest farmer network across the country, which helps it ceaselessly maintain its reputation for freshness and hygiene intact, not to mention its state-of-the-art processing plants. While transforming its business to become the leading manufacturer and exporter of fruit purees and concentrates, this robust infrastructure has placed Tasa in a favorable position, which allows the company to stay true to its name, ‘Tasa’ (which means fresh) and the vision of its founder, RM Muneer.
While, TASA has been a well-trusted fruits trading brand for decades. Under the leadership of Mr.Tanveer Hussain, Chairman of the Group & Mr.Shadab Hussain, Director of Procurement, Arshad Hussain, the Director of the company, has been quite successful in steering the brand’s diversification and growth to become a future-ready young and vibrant brand, elevating the legacy business venture his father established to a new epoch. A commerce graduate, Arshad had his hands in the family business from his childhood. The result? Today he boasts more than 26 years of experience in the fruit and food processing industry. To further explore his journey and the latest endeavors, CEO Insights engages in an exclusive interview with Arshad.
Tell us about your journey. When did you enter the family business? What inspired you to start this journey, and what drives you today?
My entry into the family fruit and fruit pulp business was sometime
during my childhood. I still remember, even during my PUC years, I used to go to the market and spend time in our yard after college. In truth, that early start translates into my know-how, and today, I have more than 26 years of experience in the fruit and food processing business.
The company, which my late father originally started, has been in the fruit trading and fruit pulp businesses for over 50 years now. Recently, we ventured into the fruit processing business, setting up multiple processing plants. We felt it is the final step in the farm-to-consumer chain. Something that started as a value addition became the business’s primary and perhaps the most lucrative part. Today, we are the largest manufacturer of mango and other fruit purees in India. And that drives me to work even harder so we can continue to be the number one.
How would you define Tasa Foods as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its client base?
We are India’s largest fruit supply company, with over five decades of expertise and excellence to our credit. Tasa Foods encapsulates the essence of excellence in all its farming, manufacturing, and production processes. We are now also the largest producer of mango pulp and concentrates in the country.
Tasa means ‘Fresh’ and it reflects the nature of our output, which is natural and of the highest quality. Our presence spans the Middle East, Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. Tasa is undoubtedly the first choice in manufacturing and exporting fruit purees and concentrates from India.
We continue to work on the principles of our founder, my late father, RM Muneer, which leads us to maintain international standards to meet our clients’ demands.
What are the major challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you overcome them, and what did you learn from them?
One of the most major challenges faced in recent times was handling the business in 2020 & 2021 during the Covid pandemic. The pandemic created havoc during peak mango processing season in both years.
"Sometimes, a Sunday afternoon needs a whole mango to be kept entirely for oneself, and eaten in one sitting.”Alison Pill
The company, which my late father originally started, has been in the fruit trading and fruit pulp businesses for over 50 years now. Recently, we ventured into the fruit processing business, setting up multiple processing plants. We felt it is the final step in the farm-to-consumer chain. Something that started as a value addition became the business’s primary and perhaps the most lucrative part. Today, we are the largest manufacturer of mango and other fruit purees in India. And that drives me to work even harder so we can continue to be the number one.
How would you define Tasa Foods as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its client base?
We are India’s largest fruit supply company, with over five decades of expertise and excellence to our credit. Tasa Foods encapsulates the essence of excellence in all its farming, manufacturing, and production processes. We are now also the largest producer of mango pulp and concentrates in the country.
Tasa means ‘Fresh’ and it reflects the nature of our output, which is natural and of the highest quality. Our presence spans the Middle East, Africa, Asia, America, and Europe. Tasa is undoubtedly the first choice in manufacturing and exporting fruit purees and concentrates from India.
We continue to work on the principles of our founder, my late father, RM Muneer, which leads us to maintain international standards to meet our clients’ demands.
What are the major challenges you have encountered in your journey so far? How did you overcome them, and what did you learn from them?
One of the most major challenges faced in recent times was handling the business in 2020 & 2021 during the Covid pandemic. The pandemic created havoc during peak mango processing season in both years.
We were forced to operate with the minimum number of workers during the lockdowns as our industry is agriculture based and is an essential industry. By sheer hard work and grit, we managed to achieve the production targets and came out almost unscathed. It was the most challenging time of our lives and our business. I learned that nothing is certain in life, and we can never take anything for granted.
How do you maintain the perfect balance between your personal and professional life? What is your success mantra?
Maintaining a work life balance is essential for any entrepreneur to succeed. I ensure I spend quality time with my family, exercise regularly and on the weekends, enjoy some downtime with my children, and constantly strive to indulge in a hobby, like playing corporate league cricket.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
Going forward, we see a huge growth curve ahead of the fruit processing industry, especially in mango processing. This will be driven by the burgeoning popularity of mango fruit drinks that have grown worldwide over the last decade. We have also started a frozen plant for fruit-based purees, which is the future of this industry, and also have plans to set up an IQF plant which will gain massive demand in the near future for the frozen fruits and vegetables.
As an experienced industry leader, what advice would you give to the budding professionals in this domain?
My advice to all budding entrepreneurs would be to prepare yourself for the industry you work in. Just working hard isn’t enough. Make sure you know the subject inside out. Knowing what you can provide to the market you’re in differentiates you from other players in your sector. If you have employees, make sure you take care of them so that they’re motivated to give you their best and take care of your customers.
Arshad Hussain, Director, Tasa Foods
Born in 1977 in Kolar, Karnataka, Arshad had his hands in the family business from his childhood. Brought up in Bangalore, he completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce from SSMRV College. Possessing more than 26 years of experience in the fruit and food processing industry today, he has been quite successful in steering the brand’s diversification and growth to become a future-ready young and vibrant brand, elevating his father’s legacy business venture to a new epoch.
How do you maintain the perfect balance between your personal and professional life? What is your success mantra?
Maintaining a work life balance is essential for any entrepreneur to succeed. I ensure I spend quality time with my family, exercise regularly and on the weekends, enjoy some downtime with my children, and constantly strive to indulge in a hobby, like playing corporate league cricket.
Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate, and what are the opportunities that you foresee?
Going forward, we see a huge growth curve ahead of the fruit processing industry, especially in mango processing. This will be driven by the burgeoning popularity of mango fruit drinks that have grown worldwide over the last decade. We have also started a frozen plant for fruit-based purees, which is the future of this industry, and also have plans to set up an IQF plant which will gain massive demand in the near future for the frozen fruits and vegetables.
As an experienced industry leader, what advice would you give to the budding professionals in this domain?
My advice to all budding entrepreneurs would be to prepare yourself for the industry you work in. Just working hard isn’t enough. Make sure you know the subject inside out. Knowing what you can provide to the market you’re in differentiates you from other players in your sector. If you have employees, make sure you take care of them so that they’re motivated to give you their best and take care of your customers.
Arshad Hussain, Director, Tasa Foods
Born in 1977 in Kolar, Karnataka, Arshad had his hands in the family business from his childhood. Brought up in Bangalore, he completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce from SSMRV College. Possessing more than 26 years of experience in the fruit and food processing industry today, he has been quite successful in steering the brand’s diversification and growth to become a future-ready young and vibrant brand, elevating his father’s legacy business venture to a new epoch.