Complan maker plans to invest up to ₹200 crore in direct-to-consumer brands

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: Zydus Wellness Limited, the parent company of brands such as Complan and Nycil talcum powder, has said it could invest up to ₹200 crore in new-age direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands as trends in the wellness space prompt it to explore new categories. In an interview with Mint, Tarun Arora, chief executive of Zydus Wellness, said the company could invest in both international and domestic markets.

He added that the BSE-listed company would drive growth through innovation, organic expansion, increasing market penetration, and acquiring new businesses. In 2018 Zydus Wellness acquired 100% of Heinz India for ₹4,595 crore. It then bought brands such as Glucon D, Complan, Nycil and Sampriti, along with two manufacturing facilities in Aligarh and Sitarganj.

The focus will be on “specific and right sized" acquisitions, Arora said. He added that while the company could spend ₹100-200 crore, “we are not constrained". “Now the nature of acquisitions has changed to more gap-filling, bolt-on acquisitions, which fit into either food and nutrition or the personal care space.

This will widen our reach, something that would have taken much longer for us to build organically. We could even look at markets outside India, such as the Middle East, Bangladesh or Nigeria," he said. Also read | Fast moving consumer goods: Time for a strategic pivot The company reported consolidated revenue of ₹2,315.2 crore for FY24, while profit came in at ₹266.9 crore.

Zydus sells wellness, personal care and food products under brands such as Nutralite, Sugar Free and Everyuth. It operates in more than 25 countries, with Sugar Free and Complan accounting for 80% of its business in these markets. In India its