### **Overview** Wardwizard Foods & Beverages Limited (WFBL), formerly Vegetable Products Limited, is a BSE-listed diversified food and beverage company headquartered in Por, Vadodara, Gujarat. Founded in **1953** as a vegetable edible oil manufacturer under the brand *Pratap Vanaspati*, the company underwent a strategic transformation following a change in ownership in **April 2022**, shifting its core focus to **ready-to-eat (RTE) meals, frozen foods, beverages, spices, and condiments**. Today, it operates under **flagship brands QuikShef and Water of Life (WOL)**, with a vision to become a global ambassador of authentic Indian cuisine. --- ### **Key Strategic Highlights (as of Sep 2025)** #### **1. Business Model & Manufacturing** - **Contract Manufacturing Model**: WFBL leverages an **asset-light, contract manufacturing approach** to efficiently scale production in response to rising domestic and international demand. This reduces capital expenditure and enhances operational agility, allowing rapid innovation and responsiveness. - **Owned Facilities**: The company operates **three manufacturing units**—Por (Gujarat), Katraj, and Bhor (both in Pune, Maharashtra). The **Por facility spans 4,023 sqm** with an annual production capacity of **1,277 tonnes**, dedicated primarily to QuikShef products. - **Quality & Compliance**: Facilities are certified under **FSSAI, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, HALAL, and USFDA**, ensuring global regulatory compliance and food safety standards. #### **2. Core Brands & Product Portfolio** - **QuikShef**: - **RTM (Ready-to-Make) & RTE Meals**: Includes **Aloo Mutter, Chana Masala, Palak Paneer, Dal Makhani, Gujarati Dal, Amritsari Chole**, and **Veg Biryani**—authentic Indian dishes that can be prepared in **three steps**, combining convenience with home-style flavor. - **Frozen Foods**: Flagship products include **Punjabi Samosa (bestseller), Aloo Paratha (bestseller), Tandoori Naan, Garlic Naan, Burger Patty, Bombay Vada Tikki**, and **frozen pizzas** (e.g., Margherita, Veggie Delight, Swami Narayan Pizza). - **Sauces & Condiments**: Offered in 1kg pouches for HORECA; includes **Tandoori Mayonnaise, Pizza Pasta Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Cheese Blend**. - **Spices**: Launched in **2023**, includes 17 variants like **Garam Masala, Shahi Biryani Masala, Sambar Masala**, available in 50g–1kg packs for retail and commercial use. - **Traditional Sweets**: Includes **Suji Halwa (bestseller), Gajar Halwa, Moong Dal Halwa, Puran Poli, Mohanthal**, and **Rajgira Sheera**. - **Clean Label Range**: Includes preservative-free, **naturally colored sauces and ketchup**, such as Clean Label Tomato Ketchup, shortlisted at Indusfood Innovation Zone. - **Water of Life (WOL)**: - **Beverages**: Offers pure drinking water, flavored drinks (**Lemon, Cola, Jeera, Ginger-Lemon, Mojito, Blue Lagoon**), and the **WOL Power Energy Drink**, launched in FY24. - **WOL Power**: Enriched with **B Vitamins (B12, B6, B3, B2)**, targeted at young, active consumers. Promoted via partnership with **Tennis Premier League Season 5**. - Distribution in **Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh**, with plans for national expansion. - **Acquired Brands**: - **Snack Buddy & Wildberry**: Acquired via acquisition of **Yeppy Foods and Safpro Industries Pvt Ltd (finalized Sep 2022)**. - Safpro, based in Pune, manufactures high-quality **sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise, and dips**, with 41+ products. Snack Buddy targets both **HORECA and retail** channels with market-ready condiment solutions. --- ### **Domestic Operations & Expansion (India)** - **Distribution**: - Products available across **7 Indian states**: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. - Over **6,500 local retail outlets**, including modern trade and e-commerce platforms. - Strategic partnership with **Ghodawat Group’s Start Local Mart (65+ stores)** in Maharashtra to boost visibility. - **Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs)**: - Operates **35 QuikShef QSR outlets** (33 in Gujarat, 2 in Maharashtra), serving ready-to-eat vegetarian Indian meals. - Regional expansion underway into **Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and South India (e.g., Coimbatore)**. - Participated in **Chennai Food & Beverage Expo 2023** to penetrate South India. - **Marketing & Outreach**: - High-impact urban branding: **400+ pole kiosks** on Vadodara’s Atal Bridge. - Sponsorships: Title sponsor for **Garba Mahotsavs, Rock and Dhol events**, Radio Mirchi festivals. - Digital engagement via **Zomato, Swiggy, and proprietary QuikShef app** offering loyalty rewards and exclusive deals. --- ### **International Expansion (as of Sep 2025)** #### **Markets Served**: - **Current Export Markets (6)**: **USA, Canada, UK, UAE, Australia, Bahrain**. - **New Entry**: **Tanzania (East Africa)**, via partnership with **Macropact Exim Tanzania Ltd.**, marking first entry into **Africa**. - **GCC Gateway**: Set up **Foodwave International** to lead GCC operations. Conducted market assessment in **Bahrain** (FY25). #### **Export Strategy**: - **USFDA Registration (Q1 FY25)**: Enabled exports to **USA and Canada**. First shipments (1,300+ boxes) to **Ontario, Toronto, New Jersey**. - **FSSC 22000 & HALAL Certified**: Supports global market access. - **Targeted Demand**: Growing international appetite for Indian diaspora food, healthy frozen options, and clean-label products. - **Product Localization**: Developing **country-specific packaging, labeling**, and taste adaptations (e.g., Jain Pizza, fusion items). - **Retail & Distribution**: - Retainer agreements with key **importers and distributors** in target markets. - Expanding into **premium retail, convenience stores, e-commerce, and culturally aligned channels**. #### **Global Branding & Participation**: - Exhibited at **Gulfood Expo 2023 (Dubai)**, **Indus Food Expo 2025**, and **Tennis Premier League**, gaining traction with **2,700+ international buyers**. - Plans to participate in **Gulfood 2026** and expand into **Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America** through new distributor partnerships. --- ### **Financial & Operational Insights (as of Sep 2025)** - **Total Assets**: ₹13,622.20 lakhs. - **Cash & Equivalents**: ₹64.58 lakhs (maintained for liquidity and growth investments). - **New Revenue Streams**: Growth driven by **export expansion, frozen foods, commodity trade, and beverages**. - While strategic investments have impacted short-term profitability, the focus remains on building a **scalable, margin-improving model**. --- ### **Challenges** - **External**: Commodity price volatility, logistics disruptions, inflation, monsoon variability, complex international regulations. - **Consumer Perception**: Overcoming bias against **frozen foods as “less healthy”**. - **Infrastructure**: **Inadequate cold chain** in India and geographically vast markets. - **Supply Chain**: Raw material cost fluctuations. --- ### **Leadership & Vision** - **Key Promoters**: Mr. Yatin Gupte (MBA, Insurance), Mrs. Sheetal Mandar Bhalerao, and Wardwizard Solutions Private Limited. - **Strategic Vision**: To position **QuikShef** as a global leader in **authentic, convenient Indian food**, and **WOL** as a lifestyle beverage brand for youth. - **Long-Term Goal**: Significantly increase **export turnover** and **international sales share** within 3 years, while driving domestic growth through innovation and digital integration. ---