VLCC Acquires Wellscience Forays into Nutraceuticals and Direct Selling

VLCC, a globally renowned brand in beauty and wellness industry, today announced its foray into the fast growing nutraceuticals industry with the acquisition of the Direct Selling business of Wellscience, a Gurugram-based company that offers a comprehensive range of high quality nutraceutical supplements and personal care products catering to customer requirements across age groups.To be rebranded VLCC Wellscience, the company’s products are all Ayurvedic or herbal and address condition specific wellness needs of customers, using an innovative Active Identifiable Marker (AIM) technology.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mukesh Luthra, Chairman, VLCC Group, said, “Combining its strategy to enter new and emerging categories in the Beauty and Wellness domain at large with the strategy to enter new channels of distribution, to reach out to a larger set of consumers of Beauty and Wellness offerings, VLCC is now further extending its presence in the high-growth Fast Moving Healthcare Goods (FMHG) segment, with its foray into the nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals segment, and retailing these products through the Direct Selling channel, which is an emerging opportunity given that the Government of India has very recently clarified regulations governing this industry.”

“VLCC is already present in the FMHG segment with its VLCC Slimmer’s range of fortified/functional foods and expanding to nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals is a natural extension our products business”, Mr. Luthra further added.

Wellscience was established in 2009 by a team led by Lajinder Bawa. He will continue to lead the business as the CEO of VLCC Wellscience. A 20-year veteran of the Direct Selling Industry, he is credited with having brought it to the country when he became the founding CEO of Oriflame India in 1995. He has also been an advisor to leading Direct Selling players, including Modicare and Hindustan Lever Network.

Commenting on the synergy between the two businesses, Mr. Lajinder Bawa said, “This is a significant step forward for Wellscience. VLCC has been committed to transforming lives for close to three decades and ensures that its product lines and service offerings are of utmost efficacy and quality, at all times. We believe that the brand values of Wellscience are in sync with the values of VLCC and this partnership will provide us the necessary thrust required for our next level of growth.”

Within the overall FMCG domain in India, the FMHG segment is one of the fastest growing. According to a 2015 Assocham-RNCOS study, this segment is likely to touch US$ 6.1 billion by 2020 from the current level of US$ 2.8 billion, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17 per cent.

More specifically with respect to the nutraceuticals market in India, it is expected to double to INR 267.64 billion by 2020 and grow at a CAGR of 16% over the next 5 years, as per a recent study by the Drug Marketing and ;Manufacturing Association (DMMA).

Furthermore, the Health and Wellness products market in India through Direct Selling is estimated at over Rs 35 billion, contributing 47 per cent share to the total Direct Selling market.