RANJITSINH DESAI

As a Business Development Manager, I spearhead growth initiatives across organized retail channels, including national and regional supermarket chains, quick commerce platforms, and premium convenience stores. My role involves: • Strategic Channel Expansion: Developing and executing plans to penetrate diverse retail segments, ensuring the introduction of premium fruits into untapped markets. • Distributor Network Optimization: Managing and enhancing distributor relationships by identifying underperforming partners and onboarding high-potential distributors to drive mutual growth. • Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating closely with importers, wholesalers, and traders in key markets to align on business objectives and streamline supply chain operations. • Customer Satisfaction & Retention: Implementing solutions to resolve service issues promptly, thereby increasing distributor loyalty and ensuring consistent customer satisfaction. • Market Penetration Strategies: Leading initiatives to introduce premium fruits into convenience stores and other premium sectors, expanding the company’s market presence. • Process Development & Deal Closure: Establishing efficient processes for outreach, onboarding, and activation, while personally overseeing the closure of significant deals in collaboration with stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities: 1. Imports & Sourcing: Oversee international and domestic procurement of imported fresh fruits. Develop and maintain strategic relationships with global suppliers, and traders. Ensure adherence to import regulations, quality standards and logistics. Optimize sourcing strategies to enhance cost efficiency and product availability. 2. Cold Storage & Warehousing: Manage operations of the Vashi cold storage facility for optimal utilization. Drive business expansion by scaling up rental services for importers. Identify and capitalize on new revenue opportunities within the storage business. Ensure compliance with food safety, temperature control, and inventory management standards. 3. Sales & Business Development: Oversee B2B sales operations and market distribution to key buyers. Strengthen and expand supplies to Azadpur APMC market, ensuring seamless operations. Identify and execute growth strategies, partnerships, and market expansion initiatives. Collaborate with internal teams to enhance sales, marketing, and operational efficiencies. 4. Operations & Growth Strategy: Optimize supply chain processes to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Work closely with stakeholders to develop and implement scalable business strategies. Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and customer preferences to maintain a competitive edge. Ensure full compliance with trade regulations, legal policies, and industry standards.

• Identify and explore untapped markets in Western & Southern India for CIROLA brand, execute expansion strategies, and conduct market research.
• Formulate tailored procurement (Import) & sales strategies, collaborate cross-functionally, and adapt plans based on market dynamics.
• Prospect customers in D2C, Modern Trade & E-commerce, HORECA, and distributor segments, fostering key relationships.
• Build and maintain a robust customer database, utilizing CRM tools for effective tracking and management.
• Set ambitious sales targets, monitor performance using KPIs, and implement pricing strategies for optimal revenue.
• Ensure exceptional customer satisfaction by addressing inquiries and issues, providing value-added services.
• Collaborate with supply chain and logistics teams to ensure timely product availability and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards, while preparing and presenting regular sales reports.

• Developing Strategies & SOP for new business categories like Imported Fruits, Pomegranate & Grapes for Sourcing & Operations.
• Developing Relationship with Farmers, Farmer Producer groups, Supplier (International & Domestic), CHA’s, Service Providers & Distributors. Sorting out critical problem areas of this stakeholders.
• Working closely with Sales Team & Operations Team to ensure the client expectations are properly met in terms of Time, Price & Quality of sourcing.
• Driving efficiencies to maintain sourcing service level and expanding margins of the sales.
• Collaborating closely with stakeholders like Operations, Finance, Field Procurement, Sales with objective to drive stakeholder’s success.
• Developing new channels for sales like Modern Trade & E-commerce, Exporters.
• Key Achievement: -
• 1. Developed Sourcing & Sales Channel for Fresh Shimla Apple & Grapes.FarmPik Sales Center at Mumbai for Retail Sales.
• 2. Recognized for outstanding contributions, dedication, and exceptional performance, receiving the prestigious “Employee of the Year award”. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ranjitsinh-desai-46b218124_hello-connections-i-am-extremely-happy-activity-7071006130172248066-ZymT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios)

• Develop monthly and weekly plan for Fruit Sourcing for business and achieving the business targets.
• Communicating the plan to team, guide and support them for Supply and Executions of plans.
• Coordinate with other stakeholders - Operations, Category, DC, Transport and Commercial in mobilizing support required for execution of the business plan.
• Extending the sourcing network to improve buying efficiency. Regular review of buying Fruits. Develop process for managing efficient buying in APMC’s, National Sourcing sites and review performance.
• Ensure the fill rates line and Quantity Forecasting & Planning Process, Price Deviations, Price Efficiency, Quality Deviations, flow through in association with Fruits Sourcing.
• Develop new network / Sourcing belts for improving availability and buying efficiency.
• Updating team about Daily price bench marking & Market Intelligence for different source.
• Key Achievement: -
• 1. Successfully Launched Dezil Fresh Brand for Pomegranate, Strawberry & Mango's.

• Execution of Category strategies in line with the overall merchandising strategy across different business formats including Reliance Fresh, Smart, and JioMart. Delivered sales growth (volume and value), profitability & inventory turns for the category. Established a collaborative relationship with vendors for sustainable growth.
• Category P&L: - Consolidate and decide category budget, deliver on Sales & Margin target, Forecasting & Preparing category sales plan and execute promotional and pricing programs to drive price perception and sales, Implementing basic mathematical calculations for pricing decisions, markups, markdowns.
• Assortment Planning & Inventory Management: - Planning of Key SKU (Value & Volume Driven), Seasonal SKU's considering trend for respective store catchment. Ensure product availability. Forecast Planning as per Product and Store demands. Analyze and monitor stock performance. Analyze stock turns and formulate plan of action. Design exit strategies for unsuccessful products.
• Price Benchmarking: - All market conditions for season are assessed & optimized (supply, quality, pricing). Conducting regular APMC, Wet Market & Competition Store visits for better understanding of category implementations in stores & build upon competitor awareness.
• Stakeholder Management: - Close Coordination with DC Operations, Store Operation, Procurement & CC Team, Vendors, Commercial Team to achieve Business Goals.