Billionaire Harsh Mariwala visits supermarkets regularly. Here's why

Harsh Mariwala, the founder of Marico, recently paid a visit to a general store in Mumbai to engage with retailers and distributors, aiming to gain direct consumer insights. The 73-year-old business magnate shared a photograph of himself at Shivraj Super Market in Parel on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting his hands-on approach to understanding fast-evolving consumer trends.

Marico, a leading consumer goods company, is renowned for its flagship products like Saffola cooking oil and Parachute hair oil. The company also boasts popular brands such as Livon and Mediker. Despite his advanced age and a substantial net worth of $3.5 billion (according to Forbes), Mariwala chooses to personally visit supermarkets and general stores.

In his post, Mariwala articulated the importance of these visits. "One thing I like to do is regularly go on visits to stores and meet with the retailers and distributors. It gives me a clear insight into the consumer mind and the emerging trends," he wrote. He added, "Here I am at Shivraj Super Market in Parel, Mumbai. How do you like to do consumer insighting for your business?"

The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 22,000 views shortly after being shared. The comments section featured a mix of admiration and constructive feedback. One user commended the personal touch, stating, "Personal interaction is priceless!" Another user shared their approach, saying, "Sir, that's amazing. We do it with a mix of AI-augmented analysis & being with customers."

Others emphasised the irreplaceable value of direct consumer interaction. "Great. Consumer insight is only way is to meet people physically. That is the only way out and in depth to get on quality / packing/ service etc," one user commented. Another expressed admiration, "Truly amazing sir. You are an inspiration to us."