Remesh T.A.
Remesh T.A.
(Country Head, Gulfmart Kuwait)
The man who made shopping a pleasure for you
- By NCM & Ramani .VB.
"Every one of us has a core set of personal values that guide and motivate us in life. When we fully commit to our personal values and implement them in every aspect of our lives, great things can be achieved," says T.A. Remesh, Country Head, Gulfmart Kuwait.
What he says is absolutely true - and he has actually proved it by catapulting Gulfmart from a fledgling grocery retailer to a flourishing multi-million dollar supermarket chain, employing over 500 staff, operating ten strategically located branches and with aggressive expansion plans for opening 25 stores across the country by 2013.
Mr. Remesh, son of Late Advocate N. Ananda Das and Mrs. P.N. Leela, hails from Kottayam district in Kerala. He graduated from University College, Trivandrum in 1988. Arriving in Kuwait in 1989, and working under the aegis of his uncle Mr. T.N. Surendra Nath, Mr. Remesh embarked on his business career by working for a stint in the catering industry, gaining valuable functional experience in the process.
The experience and knowledge he acquired during the next ten years in marketing, finance and business development led to him being selected by UAE based retail giant BMA International, first as Concept Manager and later as Country Manager of Gulfmart, when the supermarket opened its doors in Kuwait in 1999.
Fueled by rapidly changing lifestyles and income growth, organized retail was only beginning to emerge in the late 1990s when the reins of the new supermarket was thrust into Mr. Remesh’s hands. Holding the helm, while the supermarket attempted to establish itself in the market, was a daunting task that Mr. Remesh succeeded in handling with extreme dexterity.
Through enhancing cooperation with suppliers, securing the support of employees and executing a string of innovative retail schemes and products, Mr. Remesh transformed Gulfmart from being ‘just another retailer’ to becoming a supermarket brand that continuously exceeds customer expectations.
"Our success has been our ability to have the maximum number of ethnic products on our shelves. In fact, there are several Indian products that are readily available at Gulfmart, whereas they are difficult to obtain even at prominent shops in India."
Mr. Remesh believes in reaching out to customers rather than having them travel long distances to purchase their daily necessities. Gulfmart's goal is to have at the least 25 outlets by 2013. "We value our customers' time and money and sincerely feel that whatever time and money they save in their weekly grocery shopping could be utilized effectively and valuably with their family, kids and loved ones" — a wise sentiment that is no doubt appreciated by all Gulfmart customers.
With an unwavering focus on growing revenue through customer empowerment, Mr. Remesh has constantly strived to create value-added and beneficial customer engagements. By managing to effectively channelize resources through the retail supply chain, Mr. Remesh has helped entrench the Gulfmart brand as a trusted retailer synonymous with widest selection of quality products at lowest prices supported by efficient service.
Under Mr. Remesh's efficient management, Gulfmart takes its social responsibility seriously and is always in the forefront of community based activities that provide employment and assistance to a large cross-section of people from India and the sub-continent.
On a personal level too, Mr. Remesh is actively involved in various social and cultural activities involving the Indian community in Kuwait. Besides being a conscientious sponsor of several charitable organizations, he is also a valued patron of the prestigious Panakkadu Shihabu Thangal Memorial Free Dialysis Centre that provides free dialysis to over two dozen poor patients every day, irrespective of their caste, creed or religious affiliation. Additionally, he is also a benefactor of the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association’s (KKMA) Kidney Center project that aims to provide kidney dialysis treatment to low-income people, by opening affordable haemodialysis centers across India.
Mr. Remesh has been recognized for his excellence in all facets of retail business, including providing excellent customer satisfaction and service, and for consistently going above and beyond his duty in delivering on consumer expectations. His outstanding leadership qualities, dedication to betterment of the community and his commitment to charitable activities have also been heralded on several occasions. He was recently conferred with a doctorate (Ph.D.) in retail marketing by the University of Sri Lanka at a colorful convocation ceremony held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dr. Najma Heptullah, ex-chairperson of the Upper House of Indian Parliament recently awarded Mr. Remesh with the Garshom Special Award, 2010 at the special ceremony held in Kuwait. The award was in recognition of Mr. Remesh’s innovative leadership and exceptional contributions to society and reflected the numerous corporate social responsibility ventures undertaken by Gulfmart over the years.
Also, a couple of months back, an independent jury selected Mr. Remesh to receive the prestigious Al Mulla Exchange-Jeevan TV Pravasi Puraskara, which honors eminent personalities of the Indian community for their contribution in the field of social and charitable activities, medical and health care, education, art and culture.
Despite the awards and being a prominent and well-known NRI in Kuwait, Mr. Remesh continues to be a simple and humble man. "I would like to be remembered as a person who made grocery shopping a cost effective and time saving experience," says Mr. Remesh. The thousands of customers who throng Gulfmart each day will readily confirm their enjoyment of the shopping magic created by Mr. Remesh.
Mrs. Devi Remesh, formerly an employee of Indian Railways and now working for Indian School is the tension-free tablet for Mr. Remesh. Shesupports and stands by him through all his travails and successes. They are blessed with a son Ananda Krishnan and daughter Anjana. Mr. Remesh makes it a point to regularly spend quality time with his family, as he believes that they provide the inspiration and purpose to his life.
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