Sreejith Murali: Reimagining daily essentials with purpose and impact" or "The Complete Coconut Story

Sreejith Murali, CEO of OURA under Sisiram Group, grew up in Delhi with ties to Kerala’s coconut heritage. His career spanned global technology and growth roles. Trips home reminded him that heritage could inform the future, and he began applying his experience in systems and supply chains to a traditional staple.

He saw two problems in the coconut industry. Industrial manufacturing often prioritised shelf life over raw nutrition, while shells and copra meal were treated as waste after oil or water had been extracted. OURA was created to bridge this purity gap and use the whole coconut, bringing Organic, Untouched, Raw and Authentic products from Kerala to consumers.

Operating from Kochi, OURA calls itself “The Complete Coconut Story.” Its range includes OURA Pure, cold pressed coconut oil extracted below 45 degrees Celsius and double filtered without refining, bleaching or deodorising. OURA Vita offers raw tender coconut water with natural electrolytes. OURA Shreds and Crisps provide coconut kernels and baked chips, while OURA Littles is a virgin baby massage oil enriched with lavender. OURA Shells turns reclaimed coconut shells into hand carved bowls and kitchenware made by craftspeople.

The company’s “Soil to Sip” commitment means each part of the coconut is put to use. Shells become tableware and copra remnants become feed, aiming to keep biomass out of landfills. OURA pays its Kerala farming partners 15 percent above standard market rates, seeking a fairer local economy at harvest.

The move from software to agriculture tested Sreejith. Weather, drying times, cold chain disruptions and pressing temperatures left little room for error. Early trials showed how difficult it was to preserve nutrition without preservatives or high heat. Some advised shortcuts, but he refused. He treated the pressing facility like a precision lab, kept temperatures below 45 degrees and developed a cold chain workflow to protect freshness.

An early packaging route failed to maintain temperature during interstate journeys, causing delays and inventory loss. Sreejith rebuilt distribution with warehousing, faster delivery and custom insulation.

Rather than spend heavily on advertising, OURA sent small batches of oil to households in Kerala, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Mothers and home cooks recognised the taste and aroma of traditional coconut oil, and word of mouth helped the brand reach more than 22,000 customers in India.

Family remains central to the company. His father, K. Murali, the chairman, and his mother, Sini Murali, the managing director, taught him hard work and respect for tradition. Their backing reminds him that OURA should be more than a commercial brand. It should make its community proud.

Inside the team, transparency, documented quality checks and personal ownership guide daily work. Sreejith is proud of building a brand trusted by thousands while paying farmers above market rates and keeping coconut waste out of landfills. He hopes OURA will become a global standard for authentic coconut wellness, expanding through OURA Arabia and Sisiram Middle East into GCC and other markets. He also hopes to create opportunities for farmers and artisans.

His advice to founders is simple: “Don’t compromise the foundation to speed up the structure.” He believes brand trust comes from patient work, authentic quality and respect for the people behind each product. For Sreejith, heritage is not just a marketing story. It must be built into every bottle, product, promise and decision, with a global outlook.