Introduction
Three IIT graduates – Abhishek Negi, Aditya Singh, and Uttam Kumar – have built ₹ 200 crore business by selling fresh, chemical-free eggs. Their company, Eggoz, today sells around 6 lakh eggs every day. The success of their venture, however, wasn’t an easy journey.
The trio noticed that most eggs available in the market were neither fresh nor of high quality. Research revealed that the egg industry in India was largely unorganised, with eggs often being sold in unhygienic conditions, covered in dirt and sometimes emitting foul smells. With a goal to improve these practices and provide consumers with safe, high-quality eggs, they launched Eggoz.
The Vision Behind Eggoz
Abhishek, a 32-year-old graduate from IIT Kharagpur with a degree in Electrical Engineering, had previously founded a travel company called Roder, where he gained some entrepreneurial experience. However, he wanted to do something more impactful. Upon joining forces with Aditya and Uttam, they decided to tackle the issue of protein and nutrition deficiencies in India by creating a more reliable source of high-quality eggs. The trio quit their jobs to enter the egg industry, which they saw as an untapped market with immense potential.
Abhishek explains that eggs are an essential source of nutrition, but the Indian market was facing several problems. Eggs were often sold in open markets, with no standardized quality checks. In addition, many of the eggs were contaminated with dirt, and chickens were fed chemically treated food. Determined to change the status quo, Abhishek, Aditya, and Uttam set out to bring order to this fragmented industry.
The Start of Eggoz
In 2017, when they decided to pursue the egg business, none of them knew much about poultry farming. The first step was to set up a farm in Bihar with 12,000 chickens. Uttam’s family lived in a remote village in Bihar, so he decided to leave his high-paying job and return to his roots to start the farm. The team spent the next three years learning about poultry farming, understanding farmers’ challenges, and refining their approach. By 2020, with a deep understanding of the industry, they launched the Eggoz brand.
Educating Farmers and Improving Quality
One of Eggoz‘s major innovations was to involve local farmers in the process. Abhishek and his team offered them tips on how to improve the quality of eggs. They encouraged farmers to feed their chickens herbal food instead of chemical-laced feed, which helped in producing healthier eggs. Every egg produced under the Eggoz brand undergoes 11 safety checks before reaching the consumer.
Abhishek explains that ensuring the quality of eggs wasn’t just about improving the feed and farming practices. They also focused on packaging and selling eggs in a way that kept them fresh and clean. Eggoz eggs are packaged in a way that preserves their freshness and cleanliness, setting them apart from eggs sold in open markets.
Business Growth and Revenue
Today, Eggoz is a thriving business. It sells over 6 lakh eggs daily, reaching 5,000 retailers across India. The company reported revenue of ₹ 100 crore in the previous year, and its business has been doubling each year. Abhishek is confident that Eggoz will reach ₹ 200 crore in revenue this year, with a long-term goal of reaching ₹ 1,000 crore in the coming years.
Leveraging Technology for Success
One of the key factors contributing to Eggoz’s success is its use of technology. Abhishek believes that technology is the core of the business. Eggoz uses a simple and user-friendly app for farmers, which allows them to input data about their farms, track the health of their chickens, and even consult veterinarians. Additionally, Eggoz has installed IoT devices at its farms to monitor parameters such as temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels, ensuring optimal conditions for chicken health and egg quality.
Real-time data helps improve productivity, and the company claims that farmers’ income has increased by 50% due to these technological innovations. Once the eggs are produced, they are UV sanitised, packed, and tracked through an in-house software system that ensures full visibility of the supply chain. This level of traceability ensures that consumers can trust the quality and safety of the eggs they purchase.
Challenges Faced Along the Way
The journey to success was not without its challenges. The team had no experience in poultry farming, so they had to learn everything from scratch. They faced significant hurdles in convincing farmers to partner with a small, unknown company. The 2020 pandemic added another layer of complexity to their business, with the lockdown disrupting supply chains and raising concerns about the spread of the virus and bird flu. However, their resilience and continued support of farmers helped them overcome these crises.
Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Model and Future Plans
During the pandemic, Eggoz adapted to the changing environment by launching its own website for direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales. They offer subscriptions to deliver fresh eggs directly to customers’ doorsteps. This model has gained traction and is expected to play a significant role in the company’s growth.
Abhishek has set a target of ₹25 crore in revenue for FY22, with plans to expand further through both offline and online channels. Eggoz is already present in several regions, including Allahabad, Indore, Bhopal, Delhi-NCR, and other parts of northern India, and aims to expand nationwide in the coming years.
Conclusion
The success story of Eggoz is a testament to the power of innovation, resilience, and teamwork. Abhishek, Aditya, and Uttam turned their vision of providing high-quality, chemical-free eggs into a thriving business. Through technology, education, and a focus on quality, Eggoz has become a major player in the Indian egg industry. With ambitious plans for the future, Eggoz is on track to become one of the leading names in the country’s agritech sector.
GMICapitals.com RaysVeda.com GetMyStartup.com LawCanal.com GetMyIndia.com ZinCob.com Angeltors.com