A thirst for innovation

“The world is changing, and it is changing fast. If you can change before others, you will be the leader.”

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When we entered the Indian market in the 1990's, just a handful of brands were selling conventional water purifiers through door-to-door marketing. The industry has come a long way since. Today, it is one of the most lucrative sectors for national and international consumer durable brands, all of whom are looking to capture the over R3,500-cr industry. And, it is the genesis of the brand Kent RO—born in March 1999—that has contributed significantly to this growth.

I conceptualised the RO water purifier, which is a combination of three technologies, including reverse osmosis. This makes it suitable for treating water irrespective of its source. Innovation is basically functionality. We have the end consumer in mind, and we provide what he or she desires. But I feel that product or process, as long as you are the first person to do something, is innovation.

Over the years, the focus on innovation and design has remained a priority at Kent. When we initially entered the market, we immediately understood that existing purifiers would not work in India because of the way people got water in their homes. So, we designed the first RO purifier that could be mounted on a wall.