From crisping potatoes to French fries, the guest lecture spotlighted India’s frozen food boom and HyFun’s transformative approach to agribusiness
The KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM) was honored to host Mr. Soundararadjane S, Chief Executive Officer of HyFarm, the agricultural business arm of HyFun Foods India, for an insightful virtual guest talk delivered to second-year Agribusiness Management (ABM) students.
Bringing with him decades of experience from HyFun Foods, ITC–Technico, and Monsanto, Mr. Soundararadjane offered a comprehensive view of India’s evolving potato landscape, connecting his real-world leadership in agriculture and food innovation with the academic interests of future agribusiness professionals.
India’s Potato Story: More Than Just a Staple
During the session, Mr. Soundararadjane unpacked the critical market distinctions between table potatoes (used for fresh consumption) and crisping potatoes (suited for industrial processing), emphasizing how variety selection and agronomic practices are tailored to each segment.
He also traced the trajectory of the French fries market in India, highlighting:
- The surge in consumer demand for frozen snacks
- Changing retail and foodservice dynamics
- How HyFun Foods has strategically positioned itself to meet these needs through backward integration and farmer partnerships
Innovation Driving Growth
Mr. Soundararadjane outlined HyFun’s integrated value chain model, from contract farming and seed development to processing and global exports. He underscored the role of:
- Technology in precision farming
- Sustainable sourcing practices
- The importance of infrastructure in cold storage and logistics for frozen food distribution
His message was clear: India is on the cusp of becoming a global leader in processed potato products, and companies like HyFun are actively shaping that future.
A Dialogue That Inspires
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where students posed thoughtful questions on topics like export potential, seed variety innovation, and climate resilience in potato farming.
For the ABM cohort, the lecture offered a unique opportunity to hear directly from one of the leading voices in India’s food processing and agri-business ecosystem, bridging classroom theory with frontline industry practice.
