The Venus Group is popular for its Sheen Bakery stores in Kannur, Kerala. The family-run business is now managed by the second generation of family entrepreneurs. Veenish Kumar, Managing Partner at Venus Group of Concerns, talks to Progressive Grocer about how the business has evolved over the years and his plans for the future.
Uppot Kumaran, the late founder of Venus Group of Concerns in Kannur, Kerala, learned the ropes of business while working as an apprentice in an old bakery. In 1952, he decided to launch his own business under the banner of Venus Group of Concerns. His hunger for driving his business to the next level and his determination and passion to succeed led him to open Standard Bakery in 1960. Th is new outlet in Kannur quickly became famous for its three trademark products – Bread, Rusk and Cake. His unbounded energy drove him to open another two Standard Bakery outlets in Kasargod and Valavatnam in Kerala, in 1965 and 1966. Not one to let the grass grow under his feet, Kumaran expanded his baking units with the launch of Sheen Bakery in 1970. This outlet was strategically located next to the busy Kannur railway station and grew to be one of Venus Group’s popular bakery destinations, a reputation it enjoys till date.
In 1974, Uppot Kumaran breathed his last as he was about to open another bakery outlet in the State. Two of his brother-in-laws – Mohan and Surendran – stepped in to complete the unfinished project and decided to name the new outlet ‘Kumars’ in memory of Kumaran. As the business required close monitoring, Kumaran’s wife Saraswati, a retired school teacher, and her brothers, joined forces to keep the concern up and running. Between them, a decision was taken to foray into the distribution game under the name Sheen Veen Trades. As of today, Venus Group’s manufacturing, distribution and retail ventures have struck solid roots and are being managed by Saraswati and her six children – Veena Sathyanath, Sheena Rathnakaran, Sheejith Kumar, Shabin Kumar, Shajin Kumar and Veenish Kumar.
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