Seated: K. Ravindranathan Nair, holding his Individual Golden Nut Award certificate.
Back row, left to right: Giles Hacking, Pratap Nair, Goretti Guasch, Mark Mariani.
Mr. Nair was a giant of the Indian cashew business, as well as a philanthropist and award-winning film producer
The INC is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. K. Ravindranathan Nair, founder of the Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company (VLC) and a giant of the nut and dried fruit industry. Mr. Nair was awarded the Individual Golden Nut Award in 2017 for his indefatigable dedication to the cashew business for more than 40 years and for his pivotal role in accelerating the distribution of nuts worldwide.
Mr. K. Ravindranathan Nair founded the Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company (VLC) in 1957. What started as a family business grew into a premier trading house in India’s cashew industry, earning an international reputation for quality products. VLC is one of India’s largest manufacturers/exporters of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid. VLC’s steadfast dedication to product quality, consistent quality standards, customer relationships and business ethics earned the company a reputation and goodwill unsurpassed in the industry, both in India and internationally. Effective leadership supported by an efficient team catapulted VLC to its present status and helped in keeping its flag flying high. VLC has won numerous awards for excellence in export performance, including from the Government of India, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Tuticorin Port Trust, the Cochin Port Trust and the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Besides his key role in the nut industry, Mr. Nair was always devoted to undertaking activities to benefit society and improve the lives of those around him. He constructed and donated the building, furniture and books for the Quilon Public Library and Research Centre, one of the largest and most popular libraries in Kerala. He also constructed and donated a building to house the pediatric ward at Kollam District Hospital. Mr. Nair has also funded the construction of many school libraries, kindergartens and sports clubs for the benefit of local communities.
Mr. Nair was also a prolific producer of Malayalam films, including several directed by the renowned Indian filmmakers G. Aravindan and Adoor Gopalakrishnan. For his achievements in cinema he received numerous awards, including India’s National Film Award, the Kerala State Film Award and the J. C. Daniel Award.