TD Conversations: Rohit Bhatla, Managing Director, Kagome Foods India

Great sauces come from great tomatoes, and great tomato sauces come from Kagome.

Kagome is one of the oldest food companies in the world. The brand history dates back to 1899 when a Japanese farmer Ichitaro Kanie began cultivating tomatoes to produce ketchups and Worcester sauce.

The rich history from Japan was brought to India by Rohit Bhatla, Managing Director of Kagome Foods India, the fully owned subsidiary of Kagome Japan.

The company, which was established in 2018, has now made its mark in the subcontinent. In a span of three years, the brand has witnessed massive growth and is a leader in tomato-based products. The brand caters to hotels, restaurants, caterers, and cloud kitchens.

“The word Kagome means a basket of freshness. All our products are distinctly fresh. Appreciation for freshness and sustainability is at the heart of what we do,” says Bhatla.

The brand works closely with local farmers and the goal is the increase their income.

“We give farmers high quality seeds. We work with them throughout their growing cycle. We have a vertically integrated model in which we have full control of our value chain. All our stakeholders, be it farmers or seed company partners, ensure that sustainability is built across in growth the ecosystem,” says Bhatla.

In 2022, Kagome Foods India looks to penetrate more markets in the country with new tomato-based products. A strong seed-to-table presence combined with the brand’s Japanese lineage has enabled Kagome Foods India to offer global quality at local prices.