M V PETER
Pioneers in
steel utensils in Kerala
Pioneers in the steel business of Kerala, is
Maria Group who are based at Tripunithura,
Kochi, Kerala. The Group was started
by Mr. M.T. Varkey long back ago and has
trekked a long distance ahead and now triumphs
as one among the largest in wholesaler
and retailer businesses in home appliances
and steel utensils. The family business
is today led by Mr. M.V. Peter, with the able
support of his two sons, Mr. Pramod Peter
and Mr. Ranjith Peter. Back in 1972 it was in
the name of ‘Maria Steel House’, who were
engaged in wholesale business of utensils
and vessels. 1974 the group started off with
manufacturing of aluminium utensils and
in 1980 began producing brass utensils and
various other items too. During those times,
they were almost holding a monopoly in this
category of business. In the year 1982 wholesale
business of utensils was given a stop due
to entry of many similar businesses. But by
then the group were already had an
activeparticipation in the retail business under the
names of Maria Metals, Maria Enterprises,
and were a monopoly in retail business. Many
other new business competitions rose up and
left too. Maria Group survived because they
were well experienced and had a very strong
foundation.
In the year 1982 the group diversified and
started “Ammini Electronics” at Tripunithura
to include home appliances too into their fold
of business. In Kochi, by the year 1990 they
turned out to be the largest group in wholesale
home appliances. Bigger volumes of sales
started taking place both in wholesale and retail
businesses for home appliances.
2015 witnessed the opening of their new
showroom (30,000 sqft) of “Ammini Traders”
in Tripunithura. Today Ammini Traders
emanates among the top five dealers of Home
appliances, and has been consecutively leading
for many of the recent years. Good volumes of
business are being done, both in wholesale and
retail distribution. As their participation is in
bigger volumes, Ammini Traders is able to
provide better rates and good service support
to their customers. Main focus of the enterprise
is to ensure customers get best after sale
service, which they successfully provide due to
their close association with manufacturers of
appliances.
With a focused futuristic plan, the group
has an ambitious plan to start off the biggest
showroom in Kerala, for the sale of appliances,
utensils and furniture. The intention is to emphasise
on both wholesale and retail business,
which would also be backed with an online
platform for retail business.
Mr. M V Peter mentions “Business has always
been challenging and has involved lot of travelling
throughout the world”. He has made
these travels both with his family or alone, and
has by now covered almost many of the prominent
places in the world. He added, as it is a
family business there has been never a second
thought of going to work in his career. Soon
after his BCom he got allied with their business.
He pursued his studies even after that, and successfully completed Chartered Accountancy.
Basically, that makes him a Chartered
Accountant too by profession.
He also leads a socially dynamic life with active
participation in parish church activities, of
which he has been the ‘Trustee’ of the church
many a times. He is also an active member of
Merchants Union. He has also held the Presidential
position many times in ‘Dealers of Association
of TV and Appliances (DATA’) and
its new consortium named ‘Dealers Digital
Shoppe (DDS)’ association, which is the most
prominent association of dealers in home appliances.
Maria Group has a total of 14 outlets
and also has a medical shop.
Mr. M V Peter, as a word of advice to businessmen
says, “Before start-up of any business,
there should be a thorough market study and
different options should be worked out. Today
there exists huge competition in every market
and therefore there should be good level of
monitoring and hard work in all the aspects,
for the success of business.”
