A case of ‘disruptive innovation’ that is transforming
Rural India

GODREJ CHOTUKOOL
Ardeshir Godrej
17 Billion
Mumbai
More than 60 countries
Consumer electronics segment in India
(‘000 units)
12000
10000
8000
TV sets
6000

PCs
Refrigerators

4000
2000
0
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010
Indian Refrigerator Industry
Market Value - Rs. 40 billion in 2010

Unsaturated market (18% in urban
and 2% in rural)

Market growth
Urban : 7-10%

Rural :25%
Trends affecting Refrigeration
Industry
According to UN Commission on Sustainable Development, one third of all
food in India is lost to spoilage

According to CEAMA, refrigerator penetration in India is only 18%

70% of India still lives in rural areas where electricity supply is limited and
power cuts are frequent

No options available for lower income groups

Space is a constraint in rural households
Trends

Implications

Opportunities for
ChotuKool

Food Spoilage

Need for refrigeration

Demand can be created

Low Penetration

Limited access to refrigeration

Huge market available for
growth

Rural Population

Power supply issues

Alternate power options

Low purchasing Power

Create a low cost model

Lesser space available for a
refrigerator

Create a small sized
product, easy to transport

Space Constraint
What am I?
Who am I?
My Family
For whom am I?
Why me?
Cheapest
fridge
available

Portable and
light

Occupies less
space

Environment
friendly

Runs on battery
Challenges
How should they scale
up operations?
Lower the price to
increase affordability ?

Right business model?
How should they
segment market ?
Suggestions
Establish Manufacturing Plants

Low cost distribution

Avoid marketing myopia

Clear segmentation
Strengths
Simple design

Less space for manufacturing

Less manpower required

Less components used
Distribution: Community-based
model
NGO

Self-help groups

India Post

Micro-finance
institutions
Distribution
Structure of the Indian consumer
market
Consumer class
(Using annual income)

1996 (in mn) 2001 (in mn)

2007 (in mn)

The rich
(Rs.215,000 and more)

1.2

2.0

6.2

The consuming class
(Rs.45-215,000)

32.5

54.6

90.9

The climbers
(Rs.22-45000)

54.1

71.6

74.1

The applicants
(Rs. 16-22000)

44.0

28.1

15.3

The destitute
(Below Rs.16000)

33.2

3.4

12.8
Presented by :
:

Arthi
Divyant Singh
Jayasri
Kanwaljit kaur Gosal
Manimegalai
Omna Jain

Case Study on Godrej Chotukool