SK Group Founder Sandip Thakkar honoured at the Global Potato Summit (GPS) 2025 as the 'Pioneer of Potato Export'

At the Global Potato Summit 2025, Ahmedabad-based entrepreneur Sandip Thakker, Founder of SK Group, was recognised with the title 'Pioneer of Potato Export'. The honour acknowledged his long-term role in building export-ready infrastructure and professional systems within India’s potato value chain.

In addition to the GPS recognition, Mr Thakker also holds the title 'Potato Man of India', conferred independently by Technico, the world’s largest seed potato producer. Notably, he is the first individual outside Technico’s global organisation to receive this distinction highlighting the international relevance of his contributions.

An Unplanned Entry into Agriculture

Mr Thakker did not come from a traditional agricultural background. Trained as an IT professional, his entry into the potato trade began through a limited commercial transaction. What followed, however, was a systematic re-evaluation of how the sector functioned, particularly the absence of income certainty for farmers and the lack of export-grade infrastructure.

In 2001, at a time when Indian potato trading was dominated by volatile APMC-linked price discovery, SK Group introduced direct farmer procurement through contract farming. Under this model, close to 50% of a farmer’s expected yield was contracted at a pre-agreed price during sowing, offering income visibility and risk mitigation. This shift enabled growers to invest in quality inputs and laid the groundwork for a more stable supply chain.

2008–2010: Transition towards Processing

Between 2008 and 2010, India’s potato sector began moving from raw trade towards processing. Until this period, the country was largely dependent on imports for products such as flakes and French fries. Mr Thakker identified the need for process-grade potato cultivation, aligned with global standards.

Working with international food companies, he played a role in positioning Gujarat as a processing hub. In 2010, SK Group commissioned India’s first automated cold storage facility designed specifically for processing potatoes. The system incorporated precise controls for temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, preventing starch-to-sugar conversion and enabling Indian potatoes to meet stringent fry-colour standards required by global manufacturers.

Infrastructure Expansion: 2013–2016

In 2013, SK Group invested in a fully automated handling facility in Gujarat importing grading, sorting, jumbo bag systems, and end-to-end automation at a time when such infrastructure was uncommon in India.

By 2016, these efforts culminated in the development of European-style modern packhouses with automated sorting and grading. This infrastructure milestone led to SK Cold Storage becoming India’s first APEDA-approved packhouse for potatoes, under APEDA.

The impact was measurable:

• Export capacity exceeding 2,500 container loads annually
• Market reach across 18+ countries
• Industry recognition, including Best Cold Storage Awards from both the Union Agriculture Minister and the Chief Minister of Gujarat

Farmer Integration and Quality Systems

Alongside infrastructure, farmer integration remained central to the SK Group model. By 2006, the company had aligned farm practices with GlobalGAP standards and adopted digital payments (NEFT/RTGS) for transparency, well before these became common in Indian agri-trade.

Today, SK Group supports farmers with certified seed material, agronomic guidance, and technical inputs to ensure consistency in quality. This approach reinforced India’s positioning not as a low-cost supplier, but as a dependable source of premium potatoes for global markets.

Mantra Agri Solutions and Value-Added Processing

The next phase of integration emerged in 2025 with the launch of Mantra Agri Solutions Pvt. Ltd.. The company represents an end-to-end professional potato value chain, covering contract farming, agronomy, cold chain management, and logistics.

A key development under this platform is the collaboration with Haldiram’s Group to establish a state-of-the-art potato flakes facility. This initiative advances India’s role from raw material supplier to value-added processor, supported by over two decades of prior investment in systems and infrastructure.

GPS 2025 and the Mantra Agri Solutions

The Global Potato Summit 2025 marked an important moment for India’s potato sector, both in scale and substance. Organised for the first time with significant global participation, the summit reflected the industry’s shift towards professionalisation, traceability, and value-added processing. Discussions around climate-resilient seed varieties, supply chain digitisation, and processing-led growth dominated the agenda.

Within this broader context, the presence of Mantra Agri Solutions Pvt. Ltd. as title sponsor highlighted the emergence of integrated business models in Indian agriculture. As a joint venture between Haldiram’s Group and SK Group, Mantra Agri Solutions represents a fully integrated potato value chain spanning contract farming, agronomy, cold-chain infrastructure, and logistics. The partnership’s flagship initiative, a state-of-the-art potato flakes processing facility, signals India’s transition from being primarily a raw material supplier to a participant in higher-value global processing segments.

Against this backdrop, Sandip Thakker’s recognition as 'Pioneer of Potato Export' aligned with the summit’s core narrative: the need for long-term systems, infrastructure, and institutional trust to support sustainable agri-growth. 

As India’s potato industry continues to move up the value chain, the frameworks built over the past twenty-five years remain central to its progress, providing a stable foundation for future growth, partnerships, and global competitiveness.