1. Please share an overview of your company's journey and business landscape in India  

Roquette has developed a growing presence in India since 2006 and since then, the company has significantly expanded its operations in India and now has a presence in several locations such as Uttrakhand, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

In India, Roquette primarily focuses on the food, nutrition, and pharmaceutical markets. The company offers a wide range of plant-based ingredients and is also a leading provider of pharmaceutical excipients.  food, nutrition and health markets. These ingredients respond to unique and essential needs, enable healthier lifestyles and are critical components of life-saving medicines.  While fulfilling our mission to innovate and produce plant-based ingredients to better feed and cure people, we believe in being part of the communities we operate in.  Through sustainable sourcing, improving our operational activities and developing long-term relationships and supporting community initiatives, we place sustainability at the center of how we work. The company has implemented several initiatives to support local communities ranging from providing sanitary infrastructure and clean drinking facilities at rural schools to lifesaving equipments at newborn intensive care unit to treat unwell newborns and serve the needs of nursing mothers. 

With over 50% of the population in India under the age of 35, India offers a tremendous opportunity for the industry in general and for those industries focused in food, nutrition and health.  Thus, the support from Central and State governments where we operate have been very valuable to Roquette to ensure we deliver our commitment to offering the best ingredients for these markets.  

2. As a business leader, how do you see the emerging opportunities and potential growth areas for your company or sector in India?

There are several emerging opportunities and potential growth areas for Roquette in the food and pharma sectors in India:

Nutraceuticals: As the demand for functional foods and supplements increases globally, there is a growing opportunity for Roquette to offer solutions that improve digestive health, sugar management, immunity support among others.

Clean label ingredients: With the increasing awareness of food safety and health concerns, there is a growing demand for clean label ingredients in India. Roquette's range of plant-based and sustainable ingredients, such as starches and fibers, can be used to replace traditional ingredients in a variety of food and beverage applications, while maintaining and in many cases, improving taste and texture.

Overall, the food and pharma sectors in India present significant growth opportunities for Roquette, and the company's focus on sustainability and innovation positions it well to capitalize on these opportunities.

3. Looking ahead, how do you see innovation and sustainable business practices shaping your company's growth strategy?

Innovation and sustainable business practices are key drivers of Roquette's growth strategy. The company has set ambitious sustainability targets based on three platforms to advocate its Life + Nature sustainable development program.

First is Preserve the Planet which is focused on reducing our environmental footprint and contribute to regenerate nature. At our manufacturing sites, Roquette is constantly looking for ways to improve  its processes that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste generation improving long-term sustainability. We have contributed to the recycling of 171 million liters back into our process at our manufacturing sites by deploying ZLD (zero liquid discharge) facility. This has reduced our freshwater intake to 14.5% in 2023. We also believe in green energy and have adopted natural sourcing of power requirements through solar and wind at several of our manufacturing sites. Roquette is also committed to promoting sustainable sourcing practices and working with its suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of its supply chain.

The second platform is Invent for the Future, which is our company's commitment to delivering innovative solutions that are designed to create value for consumers, society and for the planet.  The company invests heavily in research and development and has a strong focus on collaboration and partnerships to drive innovation. Roquette's innovation efforts are guided by a deep understanding of staying competitive in dynamically changing market trends, and the company is constantly looking for new ways to improve its products and processes.  In India, we have a food technical services center in Mumbai.  This is part of a global network for customer technical services, it is a customer-oriented team of experts, dedicated to creating new solutions, formulations and solutions that our customers require.

The third platform is Care for People.  This is about making a positive impact on the lives of people everywhere – employees, stakeholders and communities. This is reflected in our attention to environment, health and safety systems, promoting diversity or involving our employees in local community involvement activities.

Overall, innovation and sustainable business practices are integral to Roquette's growth strategy for positioning its long-term success in an increasingly complex and challenging business environment.

4. With an increasing emphasis on CSR, how do you integrate your CSR goals with your business strategy?

Roquette integrates its CSR goals with its business strategy by aligning its sustainability initiatives with its values and long-term business objectives.   We ensure that they are impactful and meaningful, activities with local communities are chosen based on long term and sustainable partnerships.  At Roquette, this also means we consciously select CSR initiatives that are close to our hearts – food, health, nutrition, education and environment.

5. How has IFCCI and its business network added value to your operations in India?

IFCCI (Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry) has added significant value to Roquette's operations in India by providing a platform for the company to connect with other French-headquartered businesses and stakeholders in the Indian market. As a member of IFCCI, Roquette has access to a wide network of companies and organizations, as well as a range of services and resources that can help it to navigate the Indian business landscape.

Our collaboration and engagement in the past years have yielded very positive experiences as well as results.  The Chamber is an enabler in many ways for Roquette to deliver its commitments towards serving the needs of the food, health and nutrition markets in the country through the strong network with industry associations and government agencies.  Likewise, the access to in-house experts and valuable insights are of importance to Roquette, not to mention being an advocate for the interests of member companies are well-represented.   

In addition to these benefits, IFCCI has also provided Roquette with access to a range of services and resources that can help it to operate more effectively in India. They have provided opportunities on various forums to advocate and promote the right kind of policies for business growth.