Reliance Industries has signed up plans with the Bangalore-based herbal healthcare major Himalaya Drugs for lifestyle drugs and nutritional products even as the Mukesh Ambani-controlled company is busy giving concrete shape to its ambitious retail foray.
With the key management team in place, the company is in the process of identifying players and products for the retail space.
Sources close to Reliance' retail venture said that the company would soon sign up with a host of other companies in the areas of food and food supplements, consumer durables and cosmetics.
Reliance' retail business project, which has apparently arrived at an operating structure with the appointment of a CEO and divisional heads, wants to enter into big and small retail format including malls, hypermarkets, super markets and convenience stores.
Himalaya Drugs is one of the largest players in the herbal-based lifestyle drugs and nutritional supplements sector in the country.
The company, with a significant presence in the export markets (the Middle East in particular) through leading retail chains, has over 90 exclusive retail stores across India. These outlets offer 180 branded herbal products, ranging from pharmaceuticals to head-to-heel personal care and veterinary therapeutics.
Himalaya Drugs' retail outlets also serve as information centres where trained managers answer customer queries on its healthcare products. They are electronically linked to a CRM cell, which is assisted by doctors.
The herbal major, as part of its aggressive retail expansion plan, had tied up with several leading retail chains in the country and abroad.
Its partners includes Big Bazaar, Food World Supermarkets, Spencers, Nilgiris, MKRetails, Shoprite, Giant, D Mart, Ebony, Vishal Mega Mart, Salasaar Bazaar, Lifestyle and Big Shopper.
The pharmaceutical retail chains that the company has tied up with includes Pill & Powder, Apollo Pharmacies, Medicine Shoppe, CRS Health, Medisource, Health & GLow, Guardian Lifecare and 98.4.
<p><b>Do you want to discuss stock tips? Do you know a hot one? Join the <A HREF=http://connexions.rediff.com/groups/205.el target=_new >Stock Market Discussion Group</A></b>
