After exporting his Bikanervala Sweets and Namkeens all these years, Chetan Aggarwal finally set up a Dubai outlet a couple of months ago, and now seeing its success, has decided to head for Canada. The tycoon’s Canadian plans involve setting up units there, which he will be managing, thanks to a joint venture with a NRI friend. The unit will service six exclusive Bikanervala stores, for which Canada’s own raw materials will be used, but the spices will be brought from India. After all, insists Aggarwal, that’s what makes his products special and authentic. The idea of expanding abroad came due to the rising popularity of his imported products as many Indians living away from home, yearn for the taste of authentic namkeens, especially since these are made using traditional practices and not modern techniques. By building a unit in Canada, the added advantage is that it will lead his products to have a longer shelf life and they will remain fresher too, in comparison to the imported ones which today sometimes. Take a month and a half to reach the shops abroad. Perhaps the ease with which the tycoon is expanding, has also something to do with the fact that, Bikanervala is the only company in this category to have earned the prestigious ISO-9002 certificate for quality from Underwriters Laboratories. That’s a secret ingredient all right. I want more Tycoon Muhammed Majeed runs Sami Labs and is a pioneer in the domestic nutraceuticals industry. He is also a leading exporter of standardised herbal extracts, fine and speciality chemicals. This is one man who is now keeping his men busy on the road to expansion because he believes he can cash in on the fact that the newest trend in healthcare products in India is shifting from anti-infective to preventive and supportive products. The tycoon, whose products include those to treat arthritis, heart diseases, and male infertility among others, has now put his biotech research sector busy on probiotic (digestive) products. This range should ideally roll out completely in three years time. But for now the tycoon is already ready with one probiotic, which he recently launched, just to test the markets. This by the way, in addition to the excitement that Majeed is going through after winning three more global patents in the US recently. Sami Labs’ herbal products are now in full force in the US markets and unsatisfied with the 12 patents he has and the 15 that are on their way to get confirmed, he is employing more workers to help him, to gain even more patents! Majeed who recently announced his plans to intensify his focus on contract farming for medicinal plants, as well as an IPO in the making at home, insists he will find the US an easy market to be successful in. That’s confidence. Chandra’s hopeful charge Subhash Chandra often opts to take the road less traversed, even though he knows not many will follow him. While the country was trying to deal with the excitement and confusion of CAS, his company ASC Enterprises, was busy preparing to become the first Direct-To-Home television broadcaster in India with Dish TV. The tycoon was, however been left rather disappointed, when he realised that there were few to accompany him in his new adventure. While he seems to have secured the companionship of channels like NDTV and Aaj Tak, others like the Star group and ESPN are still hesitating to side with him. Star’s reason is that Chandra isn’t offering a nice enough offer. ESPN states security reasons for its refusal. The real reason for the indifference, however, is that Chandra is mainly targeting non-cable TV areas, villages and far off areas through his Dish TV. (Dilip Cherian runs public relations firm Perfect Relations). Email:dilipcherian@now-india.net.in
