Interview with Cyril R Chakranarayan Founder & Director, Olive Import Export
My early inspiration came from digital mentors— entrepreneurs, stories, and case studies that taught me the values of quality, ethics, and global vision in business
FRESH & FROZEN : Who were the key people or mentors who influenced your company’s early direction?
Cyril R Chakranarayan : In the early stages, my direction was shaped largely by learning from various online resources and industry success stories. I gained inspiration by watching entrepreneurs share their experiences on digital platforms and by studying international and domestic trade practices through articles, videos, and market case studies. These insights acted as my mentors, guiding me in understanding global trade dynamics, quality standards, and business ethics, which helped form the foundation of our company’s approach and vision.
FNF : Olive Import Export offers a wide range of frozen fruits and vegetables — what are your flagship products?
CC : Olive Import Export offers a diverse range of high-quality fresh Indian fruits and vegetables, along with raw spices and premium spice powders. While we cater to a broad product portfolio to meet global demand, our flagship products include Onions, Grapes, Mangoes, Green Chilies and Pomegranates, which are sourced directly from trusted farms to ensure exceptional freshness and flavor. We focus on maintaining consistent quality and careful handling throughout our supply chain, ensuring our products reach international markets in their best form.
FNF : How do you ensure the freshness and nutritional quality of your frozen products?
CC : We at Olive Import Export ensure the freshness and nutritional quality of our products by following a strict and carefully monitored process from farm to delivery. First, we source our produce directly from selected farms that follow good agricultural practices, ensuring the raw material is fresh and naturally grown. Proper procurement procedures are followed at harvest to retain maximum nutritional value. Once collected, products are immediately moved to cold storage facilities where the temperature is maintained precisely to prevent any nutrient loss or spoilage. Maintaining the right temperature remains equally crucial during transportation, whether by air or sea, ensuring that the products reach global markets in optimal condition —fresh, safe, and full of natural flavour.
FNF : Which global markets are currently your key export destinations?
CC : Our key export destinations primarily include Gulf and Asian countries, as these regions are well suited for sea shipments with shorter transit times, which is essential for maintaining freshness in highly perishable fresh fruits and vegetables. When required, we also ship smaller quantities by air cargo to reduce transit time, ensuring the products arrive in optimal fresh condition. For products like raw spices and spice powders, which have a naturally longer shelf life, we have the flexibility to export either by sea or air based on customer preference and demand, allowing us to serve a wider range of international markets with reliability and quality.
FNF : What major challenges have you faced in expanding to international markets?
CC : One of the major challenges we’ve faced in expanding to international markets is finding the right and genuine buyers who value long-term business relationships and quality. Additionally, meeting the specific requirements for organic and high-standard products can be demanding, as it involves strict quality checks and certification processes. Fulfilling the extensive documentation and compliance procedures, especially for European markets, also adds complexity. However, these challenges have helped us strengthen our processes, improve our quality systems and build more reliable global partnerships.
FNF : Could you describe your business model and how it ensures long-term sustainability?
CC : Our business model is built on forming strong relationships at every stage of the supply chain and maintaining complete transparency and quality control. We source our fresh produce directly from trusted farms that follow good agricultural practices, ensuring both quality and sustainability from the very beginning. By investing in proper procurement, temperature-controlled storage and careful transit planning —whether by sea or air—we preserve freshness and nutritional value while minimizing waste. We focus on markets that align with product shelf-life, such as Gulf and Asian countries for fresh items, while supplying spices globally with flexible shipping options. Additionally, we continually learn from industry knowledge and global trade practices to improve our systems. This approach—rooted in responsible sourcing, quality assurance and efficient logistics— helps us build long-term, trustworthy partnerships and ensures sustainable growth for both us and our farming communities.
FNF : How is automation or digital tracking improving quality control and efficiency in your operations?
CC : Automation and digital tracking play a key role in improving our quality control and operational efficiency. By digitally monitoring procurement, cold storage temperatures, and transit conditions, we ensure that every product maintains its freshness and nutritional value from the farm to the final destination. Our systems allow us to track produce batches back to the specific farm source, helping maintain transparency and traceability. Temperature logs during storage and transport—whether by sea or air—are recorded digitally to ensure that handling conditions are always within the required range. This reduces human error, minimizes wastage, and enables faster decision-making. Overall, automation supports our commitment to quality, sustainability and reliability, strengthening long-term trust with our customers and farming partners.
FNF : How do government policies and export incentives support your growth plans?
CC : Government policies and export incentives play an important role in supporting our growth plans. Various schemes that promote agricultural exports, provide subsidies for cold-chain infrastructure, and offer financial assistance for participation in international trade fairs help us expand our reach and improve efficiency. Simplified procedures for export documentation and incentives like Duty Drawback and MEIS/RODTEP make our products more competitive in global markets. These policies encourage better quality standards, improved supply chain systems, and stronger international market presence, allowing us to scale sustainably while contributing to India’s export growth.
FNF : How do you engage and support farmers and employees in your supply chain?
CC : We actively engage and support farmers and employees by building long-term, trust-based relationships rather than short-term transactional ones. For farmers, we work closely at the sourcing level by encouraging good agricultural practices, providing clarity on market requirements and ensuring fair and timely payments. This helps them improve quality and achieve better yields. By maintaining transparency, offering consistent support and sharing knowledge across the supply chain, we ensure that everyone involved benefits and progresses together, strengthening the overall foundation of our business