Special Report     

Published: Apr 15, 2023
Updated: Apr 15, 2023

Healthfarm group

Wizard of health supplements Riding sports nutrition bandwagon

Boosted by our current age’s fitness craze cutting across all income groups, a new star is rising on the global health-and sports nutrition biz horizon. The Jalandhar-based (Punjab) and aptly named Healthfarm group, founded by visionary first generation entrepreneur Anil Bhaskar has emerged as the leading bodybuilding and sports nutri-tion entity with its all-you-can-think-of range of nutritional supplements, organic herbs, multi-vitamins, Ayurvedic Medicines. The group aims at providing high-quality food supplements to athletes and bodybuilders, not to mention the overall group of active people. Here’s a sampling - protein powders, mass gainers/weight gainers, multi-vitamins, men wellness products, tab-lets, energy drinks, fat burners, meal replacements and im-munity builders. And all these at very purse-friendly prices! During the last decade, Healthfarm has emerged as the top most sports nutrition brand in India.

Healthfarm takes no chances with its sourcing, and its raw materials are imported from the US. Its supplements are fully lab-tested, free from preservatives, artificial sweet-eners and colours, and allergens. All its products adhere to FSSAI norms and guidelines. Besides, every product undergoes several strict quality checks before being put out in the market. These tests are carried out at every step of the manufacturing process in keeping with Healthfarm’s mantra of providing the best possible nutritional supple-ments to its patrons.

Listen to the man who started it all. Says Chairman and Managing Director Anil Bhaskar, the force behind the con-ception, growth and expansion of this nutraceuticals and Ayurveda conglomerate, “At Healthfarm, we offer a wide range of dietary and nutritional supplements consisting of antioxidant formulas, multi-vitamins, minerals and herbs. We firmly believe that everyone can achieve the best fitness physically and mentally, so we are serving mankind as a warrior by delivering ultra-premium supplements and fit-ness products to athletes, bodybuilders, active people and sports people. We are a family of highly skilled technical experts, manufacturers and packaging specialists from the Ayurvedic Medicines, bio-technology and food technology world. With the aim of providing authentic ingredients, we ensure that every client of Healthfarm gets pure, clean, high-quality nutrition and enjoys a healthy and fit lifestyle.”

HOW IT BEGAN

It was a calm and cool morning in 1987 when Mr. Bhaskar, then a well-paid sales representative of a leading pharmaceutical company, decided to quit and branch out on his own. His wife Rashi fully supported him without worrying about how to run their home in the absence of a steady salary. The couple set up the Trojan group, taking up a crusade of its own for the health and well-being of the nation. The group first promoted a small-scale company, Bison Pharma, for the manufacture of Pharmaceutical and Ayurvedic Medicines in Jalandhar, Punjab.

In 2002, A new manufacturing unit established in sansarpur terrace, kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

As the business expanded and Mr. Anil Bhaskar and Rashi were joined by their sons Karan and Bhuvan, a new brand, style Healthfarm, was created under the banner of the Trojan group in 2012.

Healthfarm mainly deals in sports nutrition supplements, gym clothing, Ayurvedic Medicines consisting of protein powders, multi-vitamins, weight gainers, fat burners, energy drinks, immunity builders, tablets and health syrups. Stresses Karan Bhaskar, “We have forged ahead unhesitatingly, with no looking back ever since.” Adds Bhuvan Bhaskar, “Our quest for excellence in the fields of Ayurvedic Medicine and Nutraceuticals has been the benchmark behind all the endeavours that led to the inception of a network of various manufacturing units.” Pater familias Anil Bhaskar notes, Healthfarm group consists of as many as seven companies -Trojan Pharma, Divine Pharma, Bison Organics, Divinity Healthcare, Bison Pharma, Herbalways Ayurvedic and Neutraherbs.”

TOP U.S. SOURCE

A visionary in a hurry, Anil Bhaskar in order to ensure that Healthfarm made rapid strides entered into strategic alliances in the UK, Canada and Malaysia, thus opening the way for the group to penetrate overseas markets. Going a step ahead, Healthfarm joined hands with Florida (US)- based Raw Nutrition to bring the latter’s quality sports supplements to India. Raw Nutrition, owned by Dr. Dominic Iacavone, Matheson Janesen and Christopher Bumstead (who is a four-time Olympics champion) is known for its premium quality, scientifically backed formulas and commitment to innovation. As Mr. Bhaskar notes, “Our partnership with Raw reflects Healthfarm’s commitment to bringing innovative and effective products to its customers. Raw supplements (Protein EAA, Intra-workout and Pre-workout) and whey protein are highly popular in the US.”

Thanks to a widening product range and rising demand for its products, Healthfarm has made rapid strides on the financial front. During fiscal 2020-21, the group’s sales turnover amounted to Rs 80.83 crore on which it earned a profit of Rs 5.39 crore. During the next year (2021-22), the sales turnover crossed the milestone of Rs 100 crore to reach Rs 101.41 crore, with the profit also rising to Rs 6.31 crore.

During the year just ended (2022-23), it earned a higher profit of Rs 7.80 crore on an expanded turnover of Rs 124.89 crore. In fact, Anil Bhaskar projects the group’s turnover and profit to reach the Rs 200-crore mark and the Rs 10- crore mark respectively in the current year ending March 2024.

EXPANSION MODE

Prospects for the group going ahead are all the more promising. Reveals Mr. Bhaskar, “Divinity Wellness is all set to establish a new factory in Jalandhar on land spread over 5 acres, which will be a significant addition to our Ayurvedic Medicines and nutraceuticals output.” The new factory is fast coming up and is expected to go on stream by December 2023. It will be dedicated to producing high-quality nutraceuticals and Ayurvedic medicines, reflecting the company’s strong focus on quality and excellence.

The group plans to expand its presence in the global market by exporting supplements to the US, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. “These developments will pave the way for a bright future for Divinity Wellness, with the potential for further growth and expansion in the coming years,” confidently concludes Anil Bhaskar.

Family biz with professional touch

Healthfarm is a family-run group with a difference - members of the Bhaskar family of Jalandhar who are part of the management are professional managers through and through.

The man behind it all is first-gen entrepreneur Anil Bhaskar, Group Chairman and Managing Director. He was a senior marketing representative for a leading pharma company for years. But in 1987, the bug of entrepreneurship started biting him and he made up his mind to do something on his own. Interestingly, his wife Rashi not only agreed to his risky plan but encouraged him to go ahead. Admits Mr. Bhaskar, “But for her powerful affirmation, I would not have ventured to take this jump.”

Anil Bhaskar looks after the overall manage-ment. But his major responsibility and contribu-tion are to ensure strict adherence to quality stan-dards and a continuous focus on research and innovation. He has an engineer’s sharp mind and his deep knowledge of marketing strategies, along with his penchant for the latest technology and the highest quality of products, have laid the strong foundation for the Healthfarm group’s singular success.

CLEAR-CUT ROLES

Executive Director Karan Bhaskar, an M. Pharma, takes care of production, purchase and finance. while Executive Director Bhuvan Bhaskar, a B. Pharma and an MBA (Marketing), looks after sales and pro-duction.

Rashi Bhaskar is the uncrowned queen of the Healthfarm business empire. Whenever there are any differences of opinion on any business issue, her decision is considered final. She maintains, “Though at home we are a loving family, at the factory and office we act as business executives and all our decisions are taken professionally.”