German stationary maker Faber Castell is set to grow its business after two decades of topsy-turvy operation in India. Having reached operational breakeven, the company has set sight on doubling its business over the next five years.

The company started its operations in India in late 90s through a joint venture. However, the joint venture fell off following a litigation as the company’s partner had interests in a competing business. The company’s factory at Goa also faced operational hurdles after it caught fire.

According to Partho Chakrabarati, managing director at Faber Castell India, while the company faced many challenges, the brand itself became well known among buyers that include students, hobbyists and artists. The situation, however, has improved and the company has grown in double digits over the last two years.

“Unfortunately, over the past twenty years we have been small, subscale, and loss making. We had an operating breakeven in 2017-18. The domestic business has been growing consistently at double digits. The brand has big potential. If there is 15-20 per cent premium, it will sell compared with most other brands. Despite being a more premium stationary player, we still had constant two years of double-digit growth,” Chakrabarti said.

“What we have decided internally is over the next five years, we should definitely aim to more than double our revenues. We will have to do it using the discerning consumer with premium offerings and not play the commodity game at all. Over due course we have to strengthen our presence in pens and pencils and we will in due course have a bigger play in quality notebooks and writing pads,” said Chakrabarti

The company has three manufacturing units in Goa, Chennai and Jammu.