Patanjali Profits Growing at 100%, Top Brand in 2 Years, Says Yoga Guru Ramdev

Hardwar: Yoga guru Ramdev today said that his company Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd will continue to be headed by a sanyasi or monk like him and not a businessman "even after me." Ramdev was detailing the growth of his company, saying profits are growing at a 100 per cent rate. The yoga guru said the consumer goods company had a turnover of 10,561 crore in 2016-17, joking that "foreign companies would have to do the Kapaal Bhaati (a breathing exercise) after hearing that figure."  

In the next two years, he asserted at a press conference in Delhi, "Patanjali will be the biggest brand in the country."

The yoga expert has earlier pledged to "make India MNC-free" comparing multinational firms manufacturing consumer products to the East Indian Company and alleging they are "here to loot".

Ramdev had by his side today his aide Balkrishna, who is a co-founder of Patanjali and its managing director. Mr Balkrishna, 44, is on the list of India's richest now and Patanjali is one of the fastest growing consumer goods companies in the country.

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Ramdev rejected allegations that Patanjali's products are sub-standard, saying they comply with standards the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). "Our goal is not to earn a profit. No one can question the quality of our products," he said. He says his food empire offers products that are free of toxic chemicals.  

The 51 -year-old saffron-robed yoga guru, who is a TV celebrity with lakhs of followers who regularly watch and join his mass yoga events and shows, holds no shares in Patanjali. He is the company's face and brand ambassador, while Mr Balkrishna runs operations.

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The company said recently that it is looking to double its share in the country's food processing market to 20 per cent this year and plans to invest Rs. 5,000 crore on the expansion of its various verticals.

On Wednesday, Ramdev hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his multi-crore state-of-the-art Patanjali Yogpeeth near Hardwar and declared him "Rashtra Rishi", or "saint dedicated to the country".

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"Patanjali and Ramdev gave me a surprise in form of the honor of 'Rashtra Rishi'. Now I have more responsibilities to work harder," PM Modi said.