India’s Food Ingredients: Import vs Local Shift

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I have spent over 17 years in procurement and supply chain, mainly within the food and FMCG sectors. My experience spans both strategic sourcing and operational leadership — from managing vendor networks and driving cost efficiencies to setting up structured governance and digital processes. I began my career in manufacturing procurement and gradually moved into more strategic roles, where I could influence business outcomes rather than only transactions. Over the years, I’ve focused on transforming procurement into a value-creation function — one that contributes to innovation, speed, and resilience across the supply chain. At Tropolite, I currently lead the Purchase function, focusing on strengthening supplier partnerships, improving efficiency, and ensuring sourcing decisions support quality and sustainable growth.

Q2. How are digital tools — such as spend analytics, supplier dashboards, or AI-driven forecasting — changing procurement decision-making?

Digitalisation has completely changed how procurement teams think and act. Earlier, decisions were driven by instinct and experience; today, they are anchored in data. Spend analytics provides visibility into patterns that help us consolidate volumes and negotiate better. Supplier dashboards give real-time…