Descriptive analysis of Local Business : Himshree Foods Pvt Ltd".



A business Analysis: "Himshree Foods Pvt Ltd"


Introduction

Himshree Foods Private Limited is known as the first noodle manufacturing company among the SAARC nations and oldest noodles manufacturing company in Nepal with its famous brand “Rara”. It was established in 2039 BS by “Fadindra Man Shrestha” under the chairmanship of Mr. Surya Bahadur KC named as “Gandaki Noodles Pvt Ltd. Later in 2052 BS it was named as “Everest Noodles, continuing to it in 2056 it was named as “Himshree Foods Pvt Ltd”. The company’s manufacturing plant is located in Pokhara Industrial Estate.
 Now the company produces noodles in different flavor with most sophisticated automatic Japanese Machineries. The plant is furnished with state-of-the-art Japanese machinery. Its product has market not only in whole over Nepal but mostly to its neighboring countries India, China and planning to extend market mostly in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Gulf Countries, USA, Australia, Russia and UK. After winning 1986 International Food award in Barcelona, Spain the company have proved in both quality and quantitative food production. Also, all the raw materials necessary for manufacturing noodles passes through laboratory tests to qualify as production input Him-Shree follows the International Standard stated in ISO 9001:2000 in order to produce eco friendly products and to meet its corporate social responsibilities.


Products and Services
Himshree Foods Pvt Limited has offered various ranges of products and services to their customers and succeeds in providing satisfaction. The company’s products and services is listed as:


  • White Noodles: Rara and Himali.
  • Brown Noodles: Aaha, A-one, Sara, Oho, Rupa, Fewa and Majjako. 
  •  Snacks: Hattori.


Technology Used
Himshree Foods Pvt Ltd is furnished with state-of-the-art Japanese machinery in its manufacturing process. Not only this company also uses Swastik as an accounting tool for accounting purpose, record management, inventory management, sales-position, and procurement management as well. With the help of these latest technologies the company is doing well in its operation with efficiency and attaining broad market share in nation’s noodle market.


Market
Himshree Foods target group is ranged from children to all the age group people. It has the huge market share in nation’s noodle manufacturing business. Solely 50% of the total white noodles is produced by the company itself and has maintained its monopoly on it. Not only this for marketing purpose the company has area sales managers, sales officers, supervisors, dealer in charge who all work in the product distribution channel. The company has 85 distributors in all over Nepal. For marketing purpose the company uses Electronic Media: Radio Ads, Paper Ads and sponsorships in various events like Aaha Gold Cup. Thus the company has utilized various marketing tactics and made its products distinct among its competing brands.


Competitors
All the noodle manufacturing companies are the competitors of Himshree Foods especially Chaudhary Groups brand: Wai Wai in brown noodles because wai wai is known as best brown noodle in nation in comparison to other brown noodles. Also the company has market in neighboring country India and China so it might have competition to the local noodles as well.


Supply Chain Management
Supply chain is the system of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Also Supply chain management spans the movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. SCM has 3 basic aspects: Input, processing and Output. In context to Himshree foods it has also those 3 aspects could be described as:

  • Inputs: Incorporation of raw-materials (flour and chemicals).
  • Processing: Transformation process that converts input into output.
  • Output: End products i.e. noodle after processing.
At Himshree food supply chain starts as first of all input is used in the machinery after that processing steps starts as:
  •  Input: Flour and chemicals.
  •  Conveyer: After input is done then it goes to mixture container and reaches to conveyer.
  •  Mixture: After this all the inputs gets mixed in the mixture.
  •  Feeder: It is used for discharging the bulk solid materials from hopper.
  •  Roller: In this step the flat sheet of mixture is rolled and made smooth and flexible.
  • Steamer: In steamer the noodle dough is steamed in salt water.
  •  Cutting/ folding: Once the noodles is steamed cutting and folding is done.
  • Frying: In this step frying of the noodles is done.
  • Cooling: At this stage the noodles which were fried are cooled for packaging.
  • Packaging: Once the noodles are fried they are packed and kept in cartoons for delivery.

Effective Supply Chain
v   Procurement
o   Raw materials ordering i.e. flour from various parts of nations mostly from: Kathmandu, Birgunj, Butwal, Dang and even itself in exception.
o   Seasoning : Chicken based soup ingredients from Singapore.
o   Chemicals:  Mostly from India and China.
v  Quality Control
o   Standard lab test of raw-materials before production.
o   Quality check of seasoning and chemicals.
o   Taste, color, moisture, ingredients and appearance check.
o   Final check of the output: packaging.
v  Distribution Channel process
o   Production.
o   Distributor.
o   Wholesaler.
o   Retailer.
o   Consumer.
v  Pricing Decision
o   Production cost.
o   Administrative cost.
o   Cost of materials.
o   Marketing expensed.
o   Other costs.


SWOT Analysis

Strengths
Generally Strengths represents the company’s overall strong aspects and the competitive advantage over other company. Also it resembles its monopoly power over other competitors in products, quality, services, market, consumers etc. Himshree food also has certain strengths as:
  • Unique and quality product: white noodles.
  •  Good relations with its suppliers, creditors and customers.
  • Good Management.
  • Variety of Products.
  • Sufficient Resources and has efficient technologies (5 liner noodle processing machine).
  •  Larger and stronger market share
Weakness
  • Labor Management problem.
  • Weak advertisement i.e. no websites.
  • Limited work hours: only 12 hrs a day.
  • Less Effective distribution channel. 
  •  Lack of automatic machine: Machines are operated manually.
  • Strong labor problems.
  • Lack of communication among the organizational members.

Opportunities
  • Advancement in technology could be done.
  • Himshree has greater opportunities in broadening its market area inside and outside nations.
  • Low cost strategies could be implemented.
  • Increasing the demand by increasing the working hours.
  • Product line extension.
  • More skilled manpower, ideas, knowledge and innovation.
  • Conducting research and development.
Threats
  • Rising competitors like Asian Thai Foods, Pokhara Noodles, Chaudhary groups, etc.
  • Threats from new entrants: wide knowledge, entrepreneur.
  • Political Instability of our country.
  • Bargaining power of customers (leads to lowering price of product which causes low profit).
  • Government Policies and tax rate.
  •  Lack of manpower that are willing to work due to abroad movement for jobs.

Conclusion and Recommendation
Being a noodles manufacturing company mainly Himshree Foods need to focus on its unique products and also try to maintain consistency and quality. Manufacturing company like Himshree foods requires adapting to latest technology not only for producing only products but also for its management purposes. The company needs to extend its current product line and also working hours from which it can gain greater market share and can maintain monopoly in noodle market. It should embrace the use of technology in production as well as in supply chain management. This will significantly reduce their cost and help in their low cost strategy. Not only this company also need to improve its advertising and marketing strategies, attract customers and maintain satisfaction among them. Finally, Himshree needs to give most priority on who they are what they are producing and for whom they are producing, if these aspects are followed then it will enhance the company’s capabilities and flourish the business.