Emami's soaring fortunes have been dragged down to earth by the blaze that torched its AMRI Hospital, killing 93 people. With seven directors -- six of them family members -- in jail or absconding, can the Emami Group survive the rocky road ahead?
Industry leaders on Thursday mourned the death of Ratan Tata saying with his demise India has lost a visionary who shaped its industrial and philanthropic landscape. Tata was a truly remarkable business leader who placed the country before business interests, and whose vision was truly transformational for a country and its people, TVS Motor Co Chairman Emeritus Venu Srinivasan said in a statement. "Mr Tata was a truly remarkable business leader, the likes of whom nations get only once in a century," he added.
Two young men jostle in a rickshaw as it clatters along a narrow, bustling lane of North Kolkata, each with a leg dangling over the side of the vehicle, a bulging sack of cosmetics nestled between them. The protagonists here are the founders of Emami - Radhe Shyam Agarwal and Radhe Shyam Goenka - childhood friends who gave up cushy corporate jobs to build a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company. From a 200-square-foot rented space on Muktaram Babu Street in North Kolkata, brand Emami stepped into the competitive world of FMCG 50 years back, armed with just three products: Vanishing cream, talcum powder, and cold cream.
Next year Medica and Manipal will merge, making the amalgamated entity the largest corporate hospital chain in the country, overtaking Apollo Hospitals Enterprises.
Last month, Emami Group completed divestment of its 100 per cent stake in Emami Cement to Nuvoco Corporation for an enterprise value of Rs 5,500 crore.
Companies such as Karuturi Global have acquired land as cheap as Rs 59 a hectare.
This would be another major blow to West Bengal after the pullout of the Tata Nano project.
After cashing in on the Munni campaign to market the Zandu Balm brand in 2010, the company has now roped in five sporting icons -- cricketer Gautam Gambhir, Olympic medal winning boxer Vijender Singh, badminton champion Saina Nehwal, five-time world boxing champion Mary Kom and wrestler Sushil Kumar -- for its Fast Relief brand.
Factories are shutting down owing to a shortage of labour and raw materials, and a lack of logistical support amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic.
Businessmen are favourite punching bags of the powers that be whenever public opinion needs to be controlled.
The fast-growing, high-margin branded spices business is turning out to be an interesting growth opportunity, which to an extent was reflected in the Sunrise-ITC deal, with multiple parties from PE to strategic players joining the fray.
The old Bimaru area comprises 36 per cent of India's population, with 40 per cent of India's youth.
Personal and healthcare major Emami group on Tuesday announced setting up of a bio-diesel plant at Haldia, the first in West Bengal, with an investment of Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion).
The group is investing Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.5 billion) to expand its edible oil business thisyear by foraying into palm oil, soya oil and rice bran oil production. In its new FMCG products, the company will launch 18 new products in hair care, babycare and men's grooming segments. Initially, the company will sell its edible oil in bulk to industries that are into production of chips and biscuits. Brands will be launched later on, depending on the initial success.
The sector is abuzz with activity as organised expansions gain momentum in the retail segment.
Personal and healthcare major Emami has forayed into baby care segment with the launch of Sona Chandi healthy and fair ayurvedic baby massage oil. \n\n
Actress-entrepreneur Madhuri Dixit plans to launch a second line of products with new herbal ingredients for the Emami group of companies.
Most feel as the movement of people normalises, the in-patient volumes in hospitals will grow and by the end of May, occupancy should be around 50 per cent, and 75 per cent over a period of time.
The Essar Oil, Rosneft deal also helped Arpwood Capital, boutique investment bank, co-founded by Rajeev Gupta and Raj Kataria, to grab the second spot in the mergers and acquisitions league table.
One of the reasons for the failure, say industry experts and financial analysts, is that Emami strayed too far from its core with sanitary napkins.
In peace and at war, firms remain tethered to promoter families in a uniquely Indian way.
Reducing dependence on wholesalers will give the company better control over its inventory, besides offering greater visibility to new brands, reports Avishek Rakshit.
Parents always want to give the best to their children.
@015 may be a good year for FMCG firms.
The Zandu business grew rapidly, and we became debt-free within two years of the deal.
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