An export unit in the adjoining SEZ will be set up as Nagpur provides better connectivity, he said.

Rarely do capital market experts look beyond the universe of companies listed on the stock exchanges. Their spreadsheets, presentations and analysis revolve around the financial ratios of listed companies that report their revenues and profits at regular intervals.

Home-grown ecommerce stars like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Paytm, among others, have caught the attention of such analysts with their advertising blitzkriegs and profit-eroding discount sales.

But, there is one unlisted company that is now on the radar of almost all the big brokerages; it is not burning cash and boasts of a loyal following, traits that are uncommon in the ecommerce space where profits are a distant dream. The company is Patanjali Ayurved Ltd (PAL).

Patanjali is clearly targetting much older fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) majors like Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, Dabur and HUL; its wide array of products — including spices, pulses, chyvanprash, toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrush, instant noodles, tea, jam, corn flakes and also beauty products — competes directly with products from the heavyweights. A quick glance at the packaging of a PAL product usually makes it clear which market-leader is being targetted; the design similarities do not seem coincidental. Patanjali is also taking on the big players in other geographies, exporting its products to Canada, the USA, Mauritius and UK, among other countries.

An export unit in the adjoining SEZ will be set up as Nagpur provides better connectivity, he said.

. I would also produce products that cater to the needs of the people. I also would produce more efficiently with people working locally.

Ramdev, who calls for taking pride in Ayurveda and domestic products, also has words of caution for other spiritual gurus building large consumer goods brands. He was in Bengaluru on Friday to address followers at a yoga camp. Translated excerpts from an interview:

Yes, there are plans to add five food parks—one in Madhya Pradesh and another one in Maharashtra have been decided upon. These are of huge capacity. More are underway. We have plans to open food parks in four or five locations, where investments will be very, very big.

No, Patanjali will do it on its own.

The plants will help with value addition of food—the idea is to do away with the middlemen involved in procurement of agriculture produce from the farmers directly. Along with this, it will help us increase the supply of raw material for herbal, cosmetic, natural products—we plan to grow herbs locally.

An export unit in the adjoining SEZ will be set up as Nagpur provides better connectivity, he said.

Home-grown ecommerce stars like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Paytm, among others, have caught the attention of such analysts with their advertising blitzkriegs and profit-eroding discount sales.

But, there is one unlisted company that is now on the radar of almost all the big brokerages; it is not burning cash and boasts of a loyal following, traits that are uncommon in the ecommerce space where profits are a distant dream. The company is Patanjali Ayurved Ltd (PAL).

The Patanjali Trust has been allotted 220-acre land at Nagpur’s MIHAN area by the State government for a Food and Herbal Park for which a foundation laying ceremony was held on Saturday in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The Yoga guru refuted the allegations of former Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar on the land allotment. “We were thinking on this [setting up Nagpur project] for a long time and talking to Mr. Gadkari and the CM. The GST has got nothing to do with it. If anyone wants land, we are ready to set up our unit in a smaller area and give the remaining land to them with 50 per cent subsidy provided they should work. I request to all the political parties and people if they cannot do good then at least don’t do bad. If you cannot help, please don’t create troubles.”

He claimed that his venture in Nagpur would provide “minimum 50,000 direct and indirect jobs to the people of Maharashtra.”

The Yoga guru plans to invest Rs.1000 crore for the creation of infrastructure in his Nagpur project.

“Nagpur will have world’s biggest food unit. In next two years, it will witness 20,000 tonnes production every day. Patanjali also plans to go worldwide and set up its units especially in poor countries which will benefit them, including Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said.

Baba Ramdev said Patanjali would also venture into garments area and a ‘swadeshi jeans’ would be launched by the year-end or early next year. “There is a great demand from youths, and therefore Patanjali has decided to launch the Indianised jeans to compete with foreign brands,” he said.