New Opportunities for Indian Nutraceuticals Startups in USA Under Joe Biden Regime

By Yoni Glickman, Principal Advisor to Nutrify India – Business and Investments

The Indian nutraceutical market has all of the correct ingredients to build strong business in the Unites States. These include a long heritage of use of natural ingredients in maintenance of our daily health, access to a huge array of raw materials, good industrial facilities and most importantly a community of well educated, aspirational entrepreneurs.

Currently the challenge for start-ups is to successfully deploy these ingredients in a successful manner with a solid busines case and execution plan. As is true for any start-up anywhere in the world, the company must be able to answer a real market need and pain point.  This inherently requires a solid understanding of the mechanisms and needs of the eco-system. COVID times have driven USA consumers to double down on the usage of dietary supplements in key, growing indications such as immunity, sleep and stress.  

Smart companies will make efforts to develop products and solutions that will become critical in the next stages of the global pandemic, during which  consumers will become  more concerned and more motivated to act around the co-morbidities that have been so lethal during COVID . These include obesity, all the expressions of metabolic syndrome and of course “side effects” of our new socially distanced reality. These indications will be the real pain points that consumers will be looking for non-pharma interventions that deliver results and a great consumer experience.  

To ensure long term success these products and solutions must be efficacious, clinically researched, and regulatory compliant. Start-ups must consider these factors in their planning and fund raising so as to ensure that they possess suitable human and capital resources to effectively execute on these critical factors. Additional opportunities will be at the nexus of wearable devices, Artificial Intelligence and functional food.  Products and solutions that deliver an excellent taste experience, ongoing demonstratable health benefits and at the same time have a strong element of incremental digital consumer engagement will win the future of the market.     

This intersection will be critical in delivering preventive solutions in forms that consumers desire whilst driving ongoing compliance and engagement. 

In summary, the combination of a strong agro-heritage, clinical science and IT capabilities, all verticals that are present in India, together with an intimate knowledge of market needs  will be the key to success for Indian start-ups in the USA and in  rest of the Western World.      

About Yoni Glickman:

Yoni Glickman is Principal Advisor to Nutrify India - Business and Investments, Chairman of Board, Management Consultant and Venture Partner. Yoni advises Nutrify India business development drives in India and abroad and also guides on investments in Indian food and nutrition start-ups. Yoni is chairman of the board of qualitas health. Yoni is also a partner to the food and nutrition venture company – PeakBridge. Yoni believes in tapping the rich pool of food and nutrition innovators from India. Earlier to this Yoni was President of IFF health solutions (A Fortune 700 company) and before that, he was President of Frutarom. 

Bring Home the Diwali Cheer with Trident’s Festive Gift Collection of Bed and Bath Linens

India’s leading player in the home textile category, Trident Group will give you ample reasons to celebrate with its festive gift collection of exquisitely-crafted bed and bath linens. A perfect amalgamation of vibrant colours, rich textures and aesthetic designs, the Autumn - Winter 2020 collection offers a range of smart bedding styles and beautifully designed bath towel sets.

Innovative offerings have been the hallmark of Trident Group. Being the first to introduce mandatory antibacterial treatment for all towels, Trident ensures the utmost hygiene solutions with its new range. More so, when health and hygiene are of paramount importance in our lives today and forever. Talking of innovation, Trident also makes anti-mosquito bedsheets.

Sharing his thoughts on the new collection, Rajneesh Bhatia, CEO, Trident Group said, “With Diwali just round the corner, our gifting special, autumn-winter collection aims to offer our customers new ways to add cheer this festive season. In line with our vision to add value to lives, our latest collection hinges on contemporary styles, innovative constructions and luxurious fabrics. This launch marks a key step towards our journey as we fortify our efforts to provide innovative and exclusive home decor solutions to our customers.”

The first-of-its-kind, ‘Aroma Bedding Collection’ offers king bedsheet set in six pleasant fragrances– Green Apple, Vanilla, Strawberry, Sandalwood, Lily and Lavender for a calming, aromatic experience. The bedding range also includes ‘Trident Occasions’, ‘Celebration Collection’ and ‘Trident Utsav’ that feature beautifully handcrafted double bedsheet sets to compliment your home's aesthetic interiors.

The ‘Aroma Bath Collection’ boasts two uniquely designed bath towels in an array of captivating fragrances like Green Apple, Vanilla, Strawberry, Sandalwood, Lily and Lavender to appease your senses. The ‘Celebration Collection’, on the other hand, is available in a range of exciting colour options such as Aquamarine, Beaujolais, Blue Print, Bridal Rose, Emperador, Real Teal, Red Dahlia and Semolina. With one large bath towel, one small bath towel and two hand towels, this gift set is a great addition to bath time must-haves, to wrap your loved ones in the goodness of extra comfort and softness.

The bath range also features an exclusive ‘His & Her Collection’ of swoon-worthy, designer towel sets to please you with the fluffiest comfort while you rejoice in the harmony of complimenting colours. While, the ‘Trident Utsav’ collection is ideal to celebrate the homecoming of everything bright and auspicious. Comprising 1 bath and 2 hand towels, Utsav with its vivid colours, soothing texture and mesmerizing design is a keepsake of comfort for your home. All our gifting collections are available between price ranges of Rs. 699 to Rs.1,999.

The new collection will be available through multi-brand outlets as well as virtual destinations of leading e-commerce portals.

With consistent investment in technology, constant research and an innovative approach, Trident has acquired wide and varied global scale capabilities in terry towel and bedsheet production. From a variety of fibres and yarn to a range of colours, both in piece dyed and yarn dyed, plains & jacquards, to a complete collection of performance finishes and surface decorations, Trident’s range keeps expanding to meet the unique needs of its customers.

About Trident Group

Trident Limited (NSE: TRIDENT; BSE: 521064) is the flagship Company of Trident Group, a USD 1 billion Indian business conglomerate and a global player. Headquartered in Ludhiana, Punjab, Trident Limited is a vertically integrated textile (Yarn, Bath & Bed Linen) and Paper (Wheat Straw-based) manufacturer with captive power generation facility. It is also one of the largest players in home textiles globally. Trident’s towels, yarns, bedsheets and paper business have earned global recognition and are delighting millions of happy customers across the globe. Supplying national, captive, and retailer owned brands; the organization is accorded with multiple national and international awards from its customers, vendors, and various government entities in recognition of advancing the highest standards in product quality, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

Manipal Hospitals To Buys Columbia Asia Hospitals for ₹1,800 Crore

Multi-specialty healthcare provider Manipal Hospitals has announced its intent to acquire 100 per cent stake in Columbia Asia Hospitals Private Limited (Columbia Asia) for over ₹2,000 crore.

The final value of the deal is expected to be known after evaluation and regulatory approvals. The advisors for Manipal Health Enterprise Pvt. Ltd was Allegro Capital Pvt. Ltd and Columbia Pacific was advised by Morgan Stanley.

The strong clinical expertise and breadth of services of Manipal Hospitals, complemented by the strengths of Columbia Asia in clinical and service quality, will ensure that the integrated organisation would be uniquely placed to improve access and address the growing demand for high quality tertiary and quaternary healthcare in the country.

Dr Ranjan Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), commenting on the deal said, “We are very pleased to welcome Columbia Asia Hospitals to the Manipal family and proudly acknowledge their outstanding track record of healthcare delivery of a very high standard over the years. Columbia Asia makes a compelling strategic fit to our core values of clinical excellence, patient centricity and ethical practices, and will help us advance our commitment to provide outstanding patient care. This is the start of an exceptional journey for us and together with Columbia Asia, we are now bigger, stronger and uniquely positioned to meet the growing expectations of the communities we serve across the country.”

Columbia Asia Hospitals commenced operations in India in 2005 in Hebbal, Bengaluru and operates 11 hospitals across the country in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kolkata, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Patiala and Pune. The network comprises over 1,300 beds, 1,200 clinicians and 4,000 employees.

Sharing his views on the transaction, Dan Baty, Chairman, Columbia Pacific Management, said, “From day one, we focused on building a culture of putting the patient first to deliver the highest quality healthcare with integrity and exceptional service. This combination of Columbia Asia and Manipal Hospitals is very exciting because of the strong cultural alignment between the two companies – and the opportunity it provides for continued growth.”

The acquisition of Columbia Asia offers a remarkable geographical and cultural fit, and provides Manipal Hospitals a larger national footprint. Together, the combined entity will have 27 hospitals across 15 cities with 7,300+ beds, and a talented pool of 4,000+doctors and 10,000+ employees. Treating over 4 million patients annually, it would rank amongst the largest healthcare provider networks in the country.

Nutrify India Highlights the Importance of Having Vitamin D in Foods

Nutrify India in team with Dr. Ezhil Arasan Ramanan highlighted the importance of Vitamin D and the varied perspective the all-essential Vitamin has on the human body, its organs and their functions.  

Nutrify India is an initiative in empowering responsible nutrition business in India. Headquartered in Hyderabad it is a platform that connects the nutraceutical innovators to the market. 

Focusing on the naturally occurring Vitamin D often termed as a hormone, Nutrify India highlights the significance the vitamin plays on the body’s overall wellbeing and health. It is a vitamin that can be produced by the body in the availability of enough sunlight. It affects 30 organs and around 200 genes. The much blamed cholesterol is in fact a producer of the vitamin. 

Physiological synthesis of vitamin D is triggered by a photochemical reaction upon exposure of skin to sunlight UVB radiations (290 – 315 nm). On exposed skin, 7-dehydrocholesterial is transformed to previtamin D3 that consequently isomerizes into vitamin D3. Successively vitamin D is processed in the kidneys and liver to a physically active formula. The coverage of skin to UVB is presented to be 70 times effective at a specific angle of the sun; 25° than at 75°. India is a geologically better positioned to have satisfactory sunlight for Vitamin D production. Yet the population in India has a high incidence of the Vitamin deficiency. Studies show that from Kashmir to Delhi to Mysore, Tirupathi and Tamil Nadu, Vit D deficiency is very high and rampant in the Indian populace. 

Researchers have proved, ‘that children open to sunlight (frolicking outdoor) for little more than half an hour a day exposing more than 40% of their body surface have a normal vitamin D statuses’.  The absence of sufficient exposure is a matter of concern and now with lockdowns and limited outdoor play options indoor play is the only option for kids. Vitamin D is not a unifunctional vitamin. Still, its role goes beyond bone mineral metabolism only and deficits have possible health insinuations on the metabolic and immune position of a body.

Normal serum levels recommended are about 12 to 40 nanograms/ml across all age groups. Levels higher than 50 nanograms/ml are also not standard in common except and then suggested by the discussing Doctors.  In regards to Supplementation Dr. Arasan says, “Breast milk doesn’t have much vitamin D in it. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends from that every breastfed infant be given 200 IU a day of vitamin D for the first two months of life and 400 units a day afterwards. Indian Council of Medical research recommends a daily recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 400 IU Vitamin D for adults while NIH recommends 400 IU up to the age of the age one year and then higher at 600 IU until 70 years and 800 IU in people above 70 years of age.”

However he does warn that carefulness must be implemented to evade misuse or extreme dosing. In excess, vitamin D toxicity can cause hyperkalemia, hypophosphatemia, nephrocalcinosis, and soft tissue calcification, therefore causative of high risk of mortality. Consuming Vitamin D below or above the ICMR approval should have a doctor’s instruction attached.

Dr. Arasan is the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director At DR. V.R.E. Research Laboratories Private Limited in San Francisco, California, USA and Chairperson of Nutrify India’s Medical Community ROoT.

BWSSB Awards Order to SUEZ India & Toshiba Water Solutions for Construction of Water Treatment Plant

Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited (hereinafter TWS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation (hereinafter TISS),  announced receiving an order from Bangalore*1 Water Supply and Sewerage Board (hereinafter BWSSB) jointly with SUEZ India Pvt. Ltd. (hereafter SUEZ), an Indian subsidiary of Suez S.A, in France. The scope of work for the order entails procurement of Design, Construction, Commissioning of a 775 MLD*2 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at T.K. Halli, Karnataka, with Seven (7) years of O&M*3 services. This project is part of Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3) (1) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Mr. Shyam J Bhan, CEO, SUEZ - APAC- India Region, said, “SUEZ is firmly positioned in India for over three decades and has built expertise aimed at helping the clients and cities manage water and sanitation for their residents. For this new contract for the city of Bengaluru, we thank BWSSB for their trust and confidence in us. Started way back in 1999 with the first WTP contract, and subsequently with two more projects in 2009 and 2015, and now 775 MLD, cumulatively we will scale it up to 2,350 MLD of safe drinking water for Bengaluru residents by 2023. We are also looking forward to Toshiba as a partner and jointly offer solutions that support the city in a long way.” 

Speaking on the win, Mr. Koichi Matsui, Chairman and Managing Director, Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited said, “In line with Toshiba’s commitment to contribute to the establishment of sustainable water systems and the creation of environmentally advanced communities in India and around the world, we are happy to collaborate with SUEZ to provide water treatment solutions that will help in the development of clean water infrastructure in Bengaluru. TWS engages in EPC*4 and O&M*3 businesses for public water supply and sewage treatment plants and industrial water treatment facilities around the world, including in India, North and Central Americas, the Middle East, West Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and elsewhere. Based on our experiences and capability, we would like to provide our best solutions for this project to provide safe and reliable water supply into Bengaluru, the center of India's high tech industry.”

SUEZ and TWS will design and construct the TK Halli Water Treatment Plant, which will be sourced from the Kaveri River, for supplying water to the Bengaluru metropolitan area, Karnataka in south India.

Rapid industrial development in Bengaluru has led to an increase in population and an expansion of the urban area. However, the water infrastructure has not kept pace with the continuing rise in the need for water, leading to a chronic shortage of water supply. The JICA’s ODA project will develop water supply and sewerage facilities, encompassing water distribution to secure stable water supply to areas where water supply services are currently unavailable, including their surrounding areas that are rapidly being developed. The T.K. Halli Water Treatment Plant is expected to further vitalize Bengaluru’s industry and improve water access of the community.

Notes to the editor:

Note 1: Although the city of Bangalore was renamed Bengaluru in 2006, BWSSB has continued using Bangalore in its name.

Note 2: Million Litres per Day

Note 3: Operation and Maintenance

Note 4: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction

Project overview

Project Owner: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board

Location: T.K. Halli Water Treatment Plant

Description: Design and construction of a water treatment plant (capacity: 775 MLD)

Construction period: 30 months

About Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited:

Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited (TWS) is an international multi-disciplinary environmental services company, headquartered in India that specializes in providing turnkey services in water and wastewater collection, treatment and disposal. A wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation (TISS), TWS provides complete, single-source services from engineering and design to construction and installation of water, wastewater and domestic waste treatment facilities. 

Top 5 Reasons Why Nexon EV is the Best Selling Electric SUV in India

Even before the current high level of interest in electric vehicles began, Tata Motors have been making concerted efforts in the electric mobility space. Their Tigor EV is a popular choice for fleet consumers. However, the recently launched Nexon EV has demonstrated their efforts to create an all-encompassing premium, technology-laden SUV that is willing to break away from the prevalent apprehension common to automobile buyers.

1. The Sweetest Package:

Not only is the Tata Nexon EV the country's first indigenously developed electric SUV, it also has the markings of a truly premium car. The powered sunroof, accompanied by the plush and premium leatherette seats, make it a superior choice in the Electric vehicle segment. The Auto head lamps with ambient & tunnel detection and “Follow me Home” feature adds to the feeling of safety that does not compromise on style and comfort. The car also benefits from a variety of tech driven features that include the incredibly powerful electric motor, a Lithium ion battery that assures long range, state-of-the art connected car features, 7” Harman infotainment system for superior audio performance and a 7” digital Instrument cluster that keeps you always informed. Priced between Rs 13.99 lakh to Rs 16.25 lakh (ex-showroom all India), making it your ideal first electric car choice right now. While the XM variant of the Nexon EV starts at Rs 13.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the top-spec XZ+ LUX variant goes up to Rs 16.25 lakh (ex-showroom all India). This amazing all-embracing package will attract customers of ICE powered vehicles in the Rs. 14 to 20 lakh bracket and scale up adoption in a relatively new segment. 

2. Safety is Paramount:

The electric SUV is equipped with safety equipment like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, corner stability control and sports a reinforced body structure to protect occupants during accidents. The car also has an IP67 compliant battery & Motor that allows the vehicle to confidently drive through flooded roads or extremely dusty conditions. Proving its reliability, the car has been rigorously tested across 1 million km across the toughest terrains in India, covering high altitudes, unpaved roads, steep gradients and under extreme weather conditions.

3. Seamless Charging Experience

The Nexon EV provides comprehensive charging solutions for all its customers. The electric vehicle’s fast charging capable battery takes only 60 minutes to charge from 0-80 percent using a CCS2 fast charger. Customers also get added benefits of free home charger installation and 24x7 emergency charging support. By partnering with TATA Power, TATA Motors gets the benefit of the largest public charging network in India that never lets you worry about your cars charge. Also offers an 8-year/1.60 lakh km warranty for the battery pack. (Note: Shift 8 Yr /1.6 lakh km warranty point to section 1)

4. 360 – degree Approach:

In order to accelerate the adoption of EVs in India, Tata Motors is working closely with other Tata Group companies including Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Tata Autocomp, Tata Motors Finance and Croma, to create an e-mobility ecosystem, Tata uniEVerse. Powered by Tata uniEVerse, consumers will have access to a suite of e-mobility offerings including charging solutions, innovative retail experiences and easy financing options. Tata Motors has partnered with Tata Power to provide end-to-end charging solutions at home and workplace as well as public charging. Taking forward its “make in India” mission, Tata Motors is collaborating with Tata Chemicals, to manufacture lithium-ion battery cells, in addition to exploring active chemicals manufacturing and battery recycling. The auto major is also working with Tata Autocomp for the localisation of battery pack assembly and motor assembly. The last piece of the solution involves the introduction of affordable financing solutions for the Nexon EV that will be provided by Tata Motors Finance. Thus, Tata Motors in conjunction with other Tata Group companies is the only EV manufacturer to offer a complete end-to-end EV eco-system to the Indian customer.

5. Combining Smart Drivability with Futuristic Design:

The car is a treat to drive and has two driving modes on offer namely Sport and Drive. The Sports mode allows for an intense power delivery and the Nexon EV can do 0-100 kmph in just 9.9 seconds. Complementing this intense performance is the design. The Nexon EV sports a bold and confident design that brings into play the IMPACT DESIGN 2.0 language. What sets the Nexon EV apart are the signature blue chrome highlights on the bumpers, the rising beltline and the EV badges. The exteriors boast of a bumper with its sporty central grille, detailed with the Tata Motors signature Tri-Arrows. On the inside too, the car comes with modern design, spacious interiors, and premium sound management to deliver a comfortable tranquil drive. 

Witness Bhoots With Humans in Uunique Show “Happy & Pinaki- The Bhoot Bandhus.” on SONIC at 11.30 am

Bedtime stories have been a significant part of all our childhood! While we all have lived through those amazing tales, the ones etched in our memories are the spooky tales that are a perfect combination of thrill and comedy. Revisiting the charm of spooky-comedy, Nickelodeon, the leading kids’ entertainment channel announced the launch of its new animated show today – Pinaki & Happy: The Bhoot Bandhus. The show premieres on 9th November 2020 at 11:30 AM on Sonic.

Taking the kids into a new world of fun, the show will portray unusual family of ghosts, who adopt the central character of the show – Pinaki and raise him as one of their own. The high-octane fantasy series will take the viewers on a laughter ride with mysterious adventures of Pinaki and Happy, followed by a series slapstick comedy combined with some Bhootbaazi as they try to fit the bhoot world in the real world. His daily adventures or ‘Bhootbaazi’ with his partner-in-crime, Happy, a 19-year-old funny ghost, makes for an unusually entertaining watch The show is directed by Ankur Chauhan. Legendary Gulzaar saab has once again scripted lyrics for the title track of the show and the music created by Simaab Sen.

The Bhoot Bandhus, is another edition to the long list of memorable homegrown characters like Motu Patlu, Rudra and Shiva to name a few, that Nickelodeon has been entertaining kids all over India with.

Watch the comedy unfold when the Bhoot World meets the Real world only on Sonic from Monday-Friday at 11:30 AM.

About Nickelodeon India

Nickelodeon India has established itself as a thought leader by being the No 1 franchise in the kid’s category with a household availability in about 120+ million households across 8 languages. The franchise boasts of a bouquet of channels like Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr and Nick HD+ catering to kids across all age groups from Tots to Teens. The franchise today has the largest original content library in the country with over hours of content and plans to add over 200 hours this year. The franchise is a home to the most legendary iconic characters like Motu Patlu, Rudra, The Golmaal Jr, Pakdam Pakdai and Shiva on Nick and Sonic; and Dora The Explorer, Paw patrol , Peppa pig on Nick Jr and marquee international properties like Loud house, Kung-fu-panda, Avatar, Penguins of Madagascar etc on Nick HD+. The channel continues to engage and entertain kids across India through large scale experiential formats, consumer product range and with digital and online presence.