Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. is the biggest success story in the Indian consumer products industry in recent times. No consumer products company, whether Indian or foreign, has grown so fast and has been able to market such a large number products in India in such a short time. The company was founded by Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna in the year 2006, it grew very rapidly and it claims to have posted sales of Rs. 5000 crore (approximately US$ 770 mn) in the financial year 2015-2016 which the company wanted to double in the following financial year; have they been able to achieve it? So far I do not know. It plans to increase its reach by having 4000 distributors, it wants to have over 10,000 company owned outlets and 100 Patanjali-branded stores and supermarkets. As reported in the media it has tied up with retail chains like Future Group and Reliance Retail for deeper penetration; it has plans to set up six new manufacturing facilities in different parts of India. Patanjali Ayurved claims to have 500 products in categories such as ayurvedic medicines, soaps and toiletries, herbal cosmetics, cooking oils, food, cleaning products and perhaps more; it also has sights on the clothing market and desires to launch its brand of jeans; the list keeps increasing.
