TSAR: The Business of Sustainability

We are already in the process of undergoing trials with some of the principal estates on the island and hoping to see some promising results over the course of the coming year. Having their final product organic certified allows the farmer to fetch a much higher price. Although the trails are not yet complete, we are already getting encouraging feedback regarding the health of the plants, which are visibly growing better. And the harvest will confirm the yield increase. We are honoured to be supported by the MSIRI who have really supported us in our ventures to date. My father works closely with the institute and they are elaborating several ways of incorporating fertilisers within the industry as a whole.

We distribute our fertilisers both in granular form and in liquid form. Our exclusive retailer is Espace Maison. We also then sell our products at your local pepinieres, so keep your eyes peeled. We are now launching three types of fertilisers with specific purposes each. They are being distributed in glass bottles which can be refilled or returned, thereby going a bit further down the sustainability process.

We also have 5 litre buckets of granular fertilisers. And we are in the process of testing bottles and containers made of biodegradable material. So hopefully, sometime soon we can shift to these types of containers also. The same way as we are working for Island Salt products, we want to find biodegradable or sustainable bags which are stable enough to hold granular fertilisers or top soils and the like. Organic fertiliser also needs to be stored in sealed bags as they have a stronger smell. Therefore, we are actively testing different formats which are both sustainable and practical.

We also have an organic top soil for which the demand is on the rise and we are very satisfied with the client response. And we can see that there is room for growth for small planters. Because even if the organic fertiliser is sold at a higher price, yet, they themselves can increase their selling price once their products are identified as being produced according to sustainable methods and avoiding toxic pesticide spraying for example.

Where does the raw material of Sprint Organics come from and how do you guarantee that it is sustainable?

Sprint Organics is set to lead the push in the organic certified products space. All our products come from France, from Frayssinet which is a leading organic fertilizer company in Europe, following strict European standards and certified by ECO CERT. We are the sole distributor of Frayssinet organic fertilizers in the region.

What is interesting also with Frayssinet products is that it has a catalogue for tropical countries following proper research and investigation on what works for our climates. Labourdonnais is actually trying out our organic products for some of its vegetable and fruit plantations. Further to quality benefits, we can see yield increases of up to 30% when using organic fertilisers. So the business case to shift from chemical to organic really is improving year on year.

Now we can ask ourselves why is that so? The answer is that Frayssinet products are naturally engineered for Nature to serve Nature. By nourishing the roots properly, the quality and taste of the fruits and flowers are naturally enhanced and strengthened. Sprint Organics shares the vision of Frayssinet for, that if you look

after your soil the results will speak for themselves in the long run. By using organic, the soil itself is being restored and enriched and this is beneficial to Nature as a whole. So, therefore, as with all good quality products, initially there may be a higher cost involved, but the benefits on the long run weigh much more in the balance.

We really want to grow our own name in Mauritius and this is why we do not stop at simply distributing, but also are actively involved by the side of our potential customers to truly test the products in their plots of land and establish a two- way communication and culture of collaboration with them.

Sprint Organics wants to be identified as a brand with its proper ethics. And even if we were to supply other products from other suppliers, we would like to be trusted to provide the most sustainable and healthy products for the soil and Nature. We carefully choose suppliers which will fit our brand’s ethics. And equally ensure that the products we bring to the market are compliant with the standards set by the local authorities.

And we can truly see the change in mindset with the Covid 19 pandemic. So many households and individuals are going back to home cultivation. And there is a greater conscience and wish to protect the soil while harvesting fruits and vegetables from it, which is great for us and a society as a whole.

Stephen Leclezio, if we were to ask you what comes next for Sprint Organics, TSAR Group or both?

For Sprint Organics, the way forward is to build on the relationships which have started with both the estates and individual customers to grow the presence of our brand and ensure that year on year we make incremental steps towards transforming the industry to an organic led market that benefits all stakeholders involved. We then hope to eventually look broader to other opportunities in the region, but our family has a business adage which guides our steps: “Until it works here, don’t go elsewhere.”

So, first things first we want local clients and customers to be truly satisfied and provide us with their feedback and success stories before embarking upon developing our outreach beyond the Mauritian shores.