PRCI awarded Shri Abhijit Sarkar with the coveted Chanakya Jury’s Special Award 2015

 Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), the ace body of Communications and PR professionals awarded Shri Abhijit Sarkar, Head – Corporate Communications & Director-Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, Sahara India Pariwar, with the coveted Chanakya Jury’s Special Award 2015 for his exemplary work in the field of Sports Communications. Shri JualOram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India presented the award to Shri Abhijit Sarkar, in a glittering ceremony held at New Delhi on 13^th March, 2015.

 This award is an eloquent manifestation of the fact that Shri Abhijit Sarkar, is probably the only sports management expert in the country who has so effectively contributed to sports in India, across the board. His exceptional efforts in bringing together Corporate for promoting sports in India from regional, national and international level not only took sports like cricket to greater heights but also brought excellence in those sports which are less popular and require infrastructural and financial support and there is hardly any sport left in the country where his efforts and encouragement have not been recognized. His outstanding contribution to Indian sports is also evident from the fact that he is the Co-Chairman of FICCI Sports Committee for the past two years and also a member of the prestigious Sports Committee of CII for last three years. He has also been the Convener of Publicity & Media Sub Committee of the XIX Commonwealth Games, 2010.

 For his contribution in the field of Sports and Corporate Communication in general and Public Relations in specific, he has been awarded with the ‘Most Dynamic Corporate Communications Professional of the Year’ in the Power brands Hall of Fame Awards in London 2011. He has also been conferred with Indy’s Excellence Award 2008 in the field of Corporate Communications, Crises Management and PR and ‘Communicator of the Year” award 2011 by IPRCCA, ‘Chanakya Corporate Communication Professional of the Year’ by Public Relations Council of India.

 Additionally, Mr. Sarkar’s unparalleled expertise and leadership in the field of sports have also accorded him vital positions in various sports bodies. He is Director - Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, Director – Sahara Force India (India’s only Formula One team), Director – U.P. Wizards (U.P. Franchise team of Hockey India League), Director – Ranchi Rays (Ranchi Franchise team of Hockey India League), Director – Awadhe Warriors (Lucknow Franchise team of Indian Badminton League), and Director – Sahara Warriors (Sahara’s Polo team). His charm and dignity made him a personal favorite of nearly all the eminent sportspersons who always consider him as their indispensable support.

It was in consideration of his deep understanding of the nuances of media and sports, vast experience and expertise in the area of communications and Sports Management that he was appointed as a Convener – Publicity & Media Sub Committee of the XIX Commonwealth Games, 2010. For the same, Sahara eventually received Gold Award under the category of ‘Public Service Campaign’ by the Public Relation Council of India in 2011.

Mr. Abhijit Sarkar has played pivotal role in cementing Sahara’s inseparable association with Sports, for the past 15 years, whether it is the Sahara Cup in Canada, Sponsorship of the Indian Cricket Team for 14 years, Indian Hockey Team, Indian Women Cricket team, Indian Volley ball team or playing a pivotal role in Sahara’s association with Hockey, Boxing, Wrestling, Archery, Shooting, Football, Golf, Polo, and other sports disciplines. Besides, being the most visible face of Corporate Communications professionals in India, he also happens to be one of the tremendously successful in taking Indian sports to the next level. Under Mr. Sarkar’s visionary guidance Sahara is supporting 73 Sports person out of which 5 had won medals in London Olympics 2012.

 Having bestowed upon with multitudinous tasks in running Sahara’s IPL Pune franchisee – Pune Warriors India, as director Mr. Sarkar lead the IPL team for three consecutive years and played a decisive role in getting the coveted franchisee for Sahara.

Moreover, Mr. Sarkar has been instrumental in developing and executing various well acclaimed international and national events like Sahara India Sports Awards (SISA) – the one-of-its-kind platform to honor the sporting legends. The ‘Sahara India Sports Award’ won Silver Award under the category of ‘Corporate Event’ by the Public Relation Council of India, 2011.

Since the early days to the present day, Sahara’s association with Indian Cricket has traveled a long journey of significant milestones that deserved to be chronicled. The story of the rise of Indian Cricket team as a cricketing super power during the course of Sahara India Pariwar’s long association not only needs to be told but also preserved for the future generation of the cricket lovers.

 In the same context, Mr. Sarkar came with a up concept of preparing a Coffee Table Book, ‘The Golden Era’, which is a sumptuous tribute to Cricket and commemorates Sahara’s glorious association with Indian cricket in a form of book that spans from Natwest Trophy win in 2002 which is considered a turning point in Indian cricket after, of course, the 1983 World Cup triumph to India’s recent home series against South Africa. The book has number of sections with brief bios on each of the recent great cricketers. The book was conceptualized, ideated and produced under the guidance of Mr. Abhijit Sarkar.

In addition to this, he was instrumental in bagging the coveted franchisee of Uttar Pradesh in 2012 for the Hockey India League. Spearheading the U.P. Franchisee, he added another feather in his cap by adding another franchisee, Ranchi Rays in 2014, in the Hockey India League, which Sahara co-owns with cricketing legend, M.S. Dhoni.

 Besides, he played a major role when Sahara announced its co-ownership in India’s only formula One Team with Dr. Vijay Mallya. Not only India, he expanded the horizon of Sahara’s association with sports beyond a nation, when Sahara bagged the official sponsorship of Bangladesh Cricket team in 2012.

Statement from Sahara Counsels Ayush Chaudhary & Abhinav Mani Tripathi

We are thankful to the Hon’ble Court for giving us permission to raise funds via mortgage and sale of certain properties. Looking at the magnitude of the transactions involved, the Hon’ble Court has allowed us 90 days time to work from the conference room within Tihar Jail court premises, extending the facilities of video conferencing and meeting with various parties.

Apart from the mortgage of the three foreign properties, court has also allowed sale of ten domestic properties and a land parcel of Aamby Valley City. We are in a very advanced stage with many parties and shall execute these deals at the earliest. We have already deposited nearly Rs.4, 000/- crores in the ‘Sahara-SEBI Account’ and we shall be very shortly depositing the remaining amount along with the Bank Guarantee.

Sahara Counsel

Ayush Chaudhary & Abhinav Mani Tripathi

Sahara Pariwar to have 30,000 Sahara 'Q shops' by 2016

Sahara Q, the FMCG division of Sahara India Pariwar, as part of expansion plans has proposed to increase number of its outlets to 30,000 by 2016-end.

Currently, the company has 1,100 exclusive brand outlets in 14 states and has distributorships in 29 States, Sahara India Pariwar said in a statement.

Sahara Q manufactures and sells 895 products in categories of staple, processed food, water and beverages, home care, personal care, home appliances and kitchenware, it said.

In Tamil Nadu, the company said it plans to have 21 outlets by March 2014, 550 by March 2015 and by March 2016, the number of stores would reach to 1,900 outlets, it said.

The number of distributors in the state would also be increased to 200 from the existing 131. It also plans to have 55 Sahara Quality Mobile shop by March 2014, the statement said.

Nationwide, the company plans to have 500 Quality Mobile Shops by March 2014 from the existing 181 outlets, it said.

As part of augmenting the expansion plans, the company would add newer manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, it said, adding the company also plans to adopt "contract farming" in the stat.

Sahara Q set to expand business in Gujarat

Sahara Q, the FMCG and retail company of Sahara India Pariwar, on Tuesday said it would open 1,900 exclusive brand outlets across Gujarat by March 2016 to capture the growing consumer market in the State.

It plans to have 400 distributors, 55 Sahara Q retail shops and 55 Q Mobile Shops in next three months, according to a press release here. Sahara Q would generate jobs for 4,340 people through direct and indirect employment.

The company’s more than 400 new distributors would reach 70,000 kirana stores to make quality consumer merchandise available in the State where the company sees a 30% growth in demand for fast-moving consumer goods.

The FMCG and retail firm would also source products from local vendors. Local assortments would be added to the product portfolio going forward, said Romie Dutt, Executive Director Worker.

Sahara Q is present in 14 States across India.

Sahara Q to open 2,800 EBOs by March 2016

Company plans to open 55 Sahara Q shop retail stores and 55 Q Mobile Shops in next three months

Sahara Q, the FMCG and retail company of Sahara India Pariwar plans to open 2,800 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) in the state by March 2016.

Immediately, the company plans to open 55 Sahara Q shop retail stores and 55 Q Mobile Shops in next three months.

The company targets to open 400 stores by March 2015 and enhance the number to 2,800 by end of March 2016.

"Odisha has a very high market potential in terms of exponential growth of our business. We see a growth of 40 per cent in demand for fast moving consumer goods in the state and we are going for a holistic expansion by adopting omni-channel approach to be available everywhere in the state" said Romie Dutt, Sahara Q's Executive Director Worker.

"We are expanding the network of distributors to make our products available across the state. Simultaneously, we are opening 2,800 exclusive brand outlets as that gives us an opportunity to showcase our entire range of products. Local sourcing of products is also in the pipeline to cater to the regional taste preferences of people", Dutt added.

The company said, it would expand its dealer network by appointing more than 150 new distributors in next three months to make its consumer merchandise available at 25,000 kirana stores.

Sahara Q would generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for close to 3,250 people from the state through its operations.

The workforce would include 200 people directly working for the company and about 3,050 for its business associates like distributors and manufacturers.

The FMCG and retail firm would source products from local vendors.

Local assortments would also be added to the product portfolio going forward, it said. Sahara Q offers a basket of 895 products ranging from food (staples and processed food) non-food (personal care and home care), general merchandise, consumer durables and lifestyle products.

Sahara Q manufactures and sells its consumer merchandise in 431 cities across 14 states through 1,085 exclusive retail stores. Besides, the company's products are available through General Trade Distribution in 29 states.

Sahara India - Hospitality project

 

A state-of-the-art, multi-specialty, tertiary care hospital providing world class facilities with more than 50 super specialities and latest generation equipments under one roof. This hospital is spread on approx. 27 acres with approx. 1 million sq. ft. built up area. Sahara Hospital got operational in February 2009 and is currently operating with 300 beds (including 130 bed Critical Care Infrastructure) and is expandable to 554 beds.