Interviewed By Syed Md. Rakeen, Team MBR

With eight years of experience in total at different organisations, Ms. Saba Chowdhury has built her career as an experienced digital marketing specialist. She has played an instrumental role in building Green Grocery, a D2C-safe food company, with the recognition of being a reliable source for high-quality, safe, and healthy food products. To protect consumers from harmful microbes and toxins, Green Grocery offers rice, spices, edible oil, ghee, pickles, and many other items that are farmed or sourced, packaged, stored, and delivered with the utmost safety. Team MBR was in a conversation with Ms. Chowdhury to learn about her journey in creating Green Grocery as well as her aspirations for the startup.

Syed Md. Rakeen: Having years of experience in digital marketing, that too at esteemed organisations like BITM, Jobike, and so on, you decided to form Green Grocery in 2020 with the goal of offering quality grocery items that are fresh and safe to consumers. Would you kindly share with us what motivated you to make this transition?

Saba Chowdhury: After gaining valuable experience in digital marketing at renowned organisations like BITM and Jobike, I noticed a gap in the market for quality, fresh, and safe grocery items. This motivated me to establish Green Grocery in 2020 with the aim of providing consumers with healthier and safer options for their everyday needs. I wanted to make a positive impact by offering products that prioritise both quality and safety in the increasingly digitalized world of grocery shopping.

Syed Md. Rakeen: There is a wide range of grocery items available on the platform, including different varieties of rice, lentils, spices, edible oil, ghee, pickles, and so on. May we know the quality standards that are followed while sourcing these items?

Saba Chowdhury: At Green Grocery, we adhere to stringent quality standards when sourcing our wide range of grocery items. We prioritise sourcing from trusted suppliers and farmers who maintain high-quality standards throughout the production process. Additionally, we conduct thorough quality checks and inspections to ensure that all products meet our strict criteria for freshness, purity, and safety. Our commitment to quality extends from farm to table, ensuring that our customers receive only the best and most reliable products for their daily needs.

Syed Md. Rakeen: Green Grocery is following a D2C approach to reach its target customers, which is quite unusual in the case of grocery items. Would you kindly share with us how this approach is working for Green Grocery?

Saba Chowdhury: At Green Grocery, our directto-consumer (D2C) approach revolutionises the grocery industry by providing customers with a seamless shopping experience. By cutting out middlemen, we are in control of our product quality and pricing. Also, the customers get to interact with us directly. This approach allows us to build stronger relationships with our customers, gather valuable feedback, and tailor our offerings to their preferences. Through strategic marketing and personalised outreach, we engage directly with our target customers, creating a sense of trust and loyalty. As a result, we can deliver fresher, safer, and more affordable groceries while offering a level of convenience and transparency that traditional retail cannot match.

Syed Md. Rakeen: ‘Grocery as a Gift (GAAG)’ is surely an innovative idea introduced by Green Grocery that will reshape the gift culture. May we know about the feedback Green Grocery is receiving from its customers regarding GAAG?

Saba Chowdhury: Customers have warmly embraced our ‘Grocery as a Gift (GAAG)’ service, with over 50 corporate entities utilising it for their stakeholders. This innovative gifting solution has resonated well, offering a unique and practical alternative for special occasions. Recipients appreciate the thoughtful gesture and the quality of the items received. Overall, GAAG has proven to be a popular choice, bridging the gap between meaningful gifting and practicality.

Syed Md. Rakeen: The products Green Grocery sells have short shelf lives. How does Green Grocery ensure that the freshness of the products is preserved until they reach consumers?

Saba Chowdhury: Green Grocery employs stringent quality control measures and efficient logistics to maintain product freshness. Our inventory turnover is optimised to minimise shelf time, and we prioritise sourcing from local producers to ensure maximum freshness. Additionally, we use advanced packaging techniques and temperature-controlled storage facilities during transit to safeguard product quality. Through these strategies, we guarantee that our customers receive only the freshest and highest-quality groceries, enhancing their overall shopping experience.

Syed Md. Rakeen: As Green Grocery sells the products with their own labels on the packages, it has the opportunity to distinguish itself while reaching the target customers through retailers. Would you kindly share with us if Green Grocery has plans to explore this approach?

Saba Chowdhury: Yes, Green Grocery is actively engaging with several retailers and modern traders to expand its market reach. Currently, we have established partnerships with a few retailers, and we are planning to scale up this approach significantly in the coming years. By collaborating with retailers, we aim to enhance brand visibility and accessibility, allowing us to reach a broader customer base and further solidify our position in the market.

Syed Md. Rakeen: Fresh and safe consumable items often come with hefty price tags. Would you kindly shed some light on the pricing strategy of Green Grocery?

Saba Chowdhury: Green Grocery strives to offer fresh and safe consumable items at competitive prices. We offer our products at competitive prices by optimising costs throughout the supply chain while ensuring quality and sustainability. By working directly with farmers and minimising intermediary costs, we can offer affordable products to our customers without compromising on quality. Additionally, we periodically review market trends and adjust our pricing strategy accordingly to remain competitive while delivering value to our customers.

Syed Md. Rakeen: What advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs who would want to follow in your footsteps?

Saba Chowdhury: My advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs is to believe in themselves and their ideas. It is essential to stay focused, persistent, and resilient in the face of challenges. Seek mentorship, build a supportive network, and continuously learn from both successes and failures. Never be afraid to take calculated risks, and always prioritise selfcare to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Most importantly, never underestimate the power of your voice and the impact you can make in the entrepreneurial world.