GFPF: Sikkim’s, and supreme

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK: The Government Fruit Preservation Factory [GFPF] has recorded an 80% increase in turnover in 2010-11, raising Rs 2.81 crores against Rs 1.57 crores in the last financial year.
Speaking to media persons, the GFPF Managing Director, Karma Zimpa, shared that the factory is continuing with “best efforts” to become self-sustaining within the next one and a half years. The factory, established in the year 1956, and spread across a 4 acre campus near Singtam, has 90 workers employed with it.
The MD informs that at present, the factory is bringing out 42 products already popular across Sikkim and now also being sent to Delhi and other places in the country through SIMFED and TRIFED.

The MD also informed that the factory, using organic produce from local farmers, earns around 70% of its revenue from sale of its orange squash, 25% from pickles and the rest from jams and other products.
“It is the brand and quality of Sikkim Supreme products because of which the people love our products, and now, the taste and quality have been improving,” he said.
He further informed that from time to time, the factory has commissioned market surveys and confirmed that it was on the top in Sikkim and that the only suggestion people had was for a decrease in the price of products.
Mr Zimpa added that the company has taken all the feedback and suggestions positively and was working on them.
“The people trust the brand and love the product as it is also connects with the heritage and history of the state”, he adds.
Since the last financial year, the company has been spending a lot of time and energy on brand rebuilding and product improvement and to bring professionalism among the workers and was looking for sound distributors in Nepal and Bhutan as well.
The MD informed that for sales and promotion the company, has also opened many outlets along the National Highway and has plans to open a branch office in Siliguri.