VLCC on expansion spree, to open centres in K'taka

Indian wellness market is growing at 18-20 per cent

Beauty and wellness firm VLCC Health Care, which recently received capital markets regulator Sebi’s nod to raise at least Rs 400 crore through initial public offer (IPO), has aggressive plans to expand across the cities in India and also overseas.

“We are planning for an IPO, and it will happen soon. Around Rs 400 crore will be raised as primary capital, and we will also be raising an additional Rs 200 crore as secondary capital,” VLCC founder Vandana Luthra told Deccan Herald.

She was in the city to inaugurate two centres. “Almost 15 years ago, we opened our first centre in Koramangala. Now we have nine centres, including our new centre at HSR Layout. In another 3-4 months, we are planning to open our 10th centre at Electronic City,” said Luthra, adding that VLCC will open 14 centres in Karnataka within 2-3 years.

VLCC Wellness Centres are located in 122 cities across 11 countries, including South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. VLCC has 236 wellness centres globally, of which, 187 are in India and 49 overseas.

Fragmented market

Talking about the Indian wellness market, Luthra said, it is growing at 18-20 per cent every year, and is an interesting market.

“The only thing is that it is fragmented, and is also largely unorganised. Close to 60-65 per cent players in the market are unorganised. We need the right kind of resources and we have to build up skills,” said Luthra.

“We want to target both professionals and non-professionals, who want to be fit. We want to provide our consumers a more friendly environment,” she added.

Not just in cities, VLCC also sees more opportunities in tier II and tier III towns. “There is an aspiration among people to look good. Also, smaller the place, more the visibility,” the VLCC founder said.