Established in 1936, ACC Ltd, a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, is one of India’s leading producers of cement and ready-mix concrete. Synonymous with cement, it is one of the pioneers in the Indian building materials market with over 6,400 employees, 17 cement manufacturing sites, 80 concrete plants and a nationwide network of over 56,000 channel partners to serve customers. With a world-class R&D centre in Mumbai, the quality of ACC’s products and services, as well as its commitment to technological development, make it a preferred brand in building materials. ACC is also counted among the country’s most sustainable companies. Its world-class leadership team has a proven track record of performance delivery, underpinned by ongoing talent development and succession planning. Sridhar Balakrishnan, Managing Director & CEO, ACC Ltd, shares more on the company, its legacy, plans and prospects…. What is a key parameter that has contributed to you being among the most admired brands in construction? ACC is a trusted cement brand for over 80 years and we have set new standards for the industry to emulate. We are recognised for challenging conventions and delivering on our promises. Consistent focus on sustainable business practices with greater use of technologically advanced processes has enabled us to grow stakeholder value. How did you fare against the backdrop of the pandemic? We connected more closely with customers and reinforced our market leadership with value-added products and services. Our strong focus remained on ‘Health, Cost and Cash’, which led to our net rise to Rs 1,430 crore compared to Rs 1,378 crore of the previous fiscal. We improved our margins with a strong focus on cost management and price revision as well as focus on premium products and profitable geographies and increase in trade contributions. Further, we eliminated all unnecessary costs from the overall value chain. What do your customers value most about you? ACC has always demonstrated thought leadership in the cement industry. Customers trust the ACC brand to provide the right solutions. Tell us about your plans for FY21-22 that will enhance your ‘admiration quotient’. Our strategy aims to deliver strong returns to shareholders, best-in-class and sustainable products to customers and create shared value for our communities and employees. All our strategic initiatives are geared to strengthen brand equity, offer innovative products, drive our sustainability strategy, focus on cost-efficiency and management, reinforce a strong corporate governance framework to support organisational needs, and build robust growth plans. Upcoming projects include a greenfield integrated cement plant in Ametha, Madhya Pradesh; a grinding unit in Sindri, Jharkhand; expansion of a grinding unit in Tikaria, Uttar Pradesh; and a grinding unit in Shonebhadra district. Further, as part of our mission to bring sustainable products to India, we have launched ECOPact green concrete in Mumbai and Hyderabad.