Founder

R. Vikraman, an entrepreneur who carved his own path in the seafood industry, has left behind a legacy. Starting as a mathematics teacher at Tutorial College, he eventually made his return by setting new benchmarks of success in the business sector. When he moved from Cheriazheekkal in Karunagappally to Kochi, he didn’t have much in hand. What he did have was a strong resolve to overcome hardships. By the mid-1960s, after arriving in Kochi, he began his journey in the seafood sector, with Thoppumpady as his base. The practice at the time was to boil and dry shrimp to turn it into powder and then export it. Initially, it was a small-scale endeavour.

At that time, shrimp powder was mainly exported to Burma. This marked the beginning of Kochi becoming his domain. Despite facing significant challenges in the early stages, he firmly established himself in business with determination. Even amidst crises, he did not shy away from bold experiments.

Vikraman managed to initiate experimental approaches in the seafood industry, responding to all the changes that took place later in the sector. He became known as an entrepreneur who experimented with diverse products. As competition intensified, he led efforts to discover new avenues. He travelled to various countries, exploring new opportunities, and found markets across European countries, establishing good relationships with businesspeople there. With the advent of systems for directly freezing and shipping fish, he advanced in that direction as well.

Over time, many of the major establishments in the sector during the early days withdrew. However, the enterprise he started under the name “Bell Foods” in Thoppumpady remained resilient in the face of challenges, and more institutions were established. He moved forward by uniting everyone, including the suppliers of fish. His business strategy was based on fostering goodwill. He lived in Edakochi with his family. Due to illness, he had not been active for the past two years. However, his departure came only after he paved the way for the new generation in the business sector.