Category: Brands

Purpose Before Profit

Serene Pharma, the flagship company of the Serene Group, is a prominent name in Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical marketing and distribution sector. Known for introducing iron sucrose and nutritional infusions to the Uzbek market, the company has established a robust presence across various therapeutic segments. With a science-driven approach and a steadfast commitment to innovation, Serene Pharma leverages advanced research, development, and customer-centric solutions to maintain its competitive edge. Its success story demonstrates its dedication to excellence and significant contribution to Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical sector.

Founded in 2012, Serene Pharma has been committed to improving healthcare access through vision, determination, and a steadfast commitment to innovation. In just over a decade, the company has grown from a small startup with 18 employees to a market leader boasting over 750 team members. Over the years, the organisation has positioned itself as a key player in Uzbekistan’s domestic pharmaceutical market while expanding its reach across five other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries.

Visionary Leadership

Under the stellar leadership of its Founder and CEO, Mr. Satish Vijaywargi, Serene Pharma has experienced remarkable growth over the years. His consistent guidance has enabled the company to evolve from a modest startup into an industry leader. The company operates from a sprawling 2-hectare campus, with its manufacturing plant adhering to international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. With an annual production capacity of 10 million bottles of large-volume parenteral (LVP) and 110 million ampoules of small-volume parenteral (SVP), the plant is well-equipped to serve both local and international markets.

Embracing Innovation and Quality

Serene Pharma adopts cutting-edge technology and scientific advancements to develop innovative products and improve accessibility and patient outcomes. The company has established a modern in-house Quality Control and Formulation Lab, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as HPLC, TOC, FTIR, and UV spectrometry. These technologies ensure that all products adhere to international quality standards. For Serene Pharma, quality is more than just a priority—it is embedded into every step of the production process. Every production stage is rigorously validated and documented to ensure that the medicines reaching patients are safe, effective, and of the highest quality. With customer satisfaction as its core focus, Serene Pharma adopts the mantra: “Do it right the first (and every) time.” What makes the company truly customer-centric is its constant dedication to improving healthcare accessibility. It ensures that its products reach the people who need them the most. Serene Pharma prioritises access, affordability, and efficacy; whether while providing life-saving treatments or everyday medications. Its transparent processes and robust supply chain ensure that the company can deliver on its promise of high-quality healthcare solutions, even in remote and underserved areas. The company also values collaboration with its stakeholders—pharmacies, distributors, and partners—by prioritising transparency, superior service, and support. This has helped build a strong, interconnected network that ensures seamless delivery of its products. Serene Pharma has ambitious plans to increase its revenues by $20 million over the next few years, primarily by expanding its range of injectable products. The company attributes its success to its dedicated employees, whom it considers its most valuable assets. To ensure their growth, it supports employees at every stage of their careers, guiding them from the very beginning and helping them reach the pinnacle of their professional journeys.

Commitment to Research and Innovation

Innovation is at the core of Serene Pharma’s business philosophy. The company invests heavily in state-of-the-art facilities and a skilled team of scientists to deliver forward-thinking pharmaceutical solutions. Its vision is to become the most admired pharmaceutical company in Central Asia by improving patients’ well-being, fostering strong doctor relationships, and empowering its employees. Serene Pharma has carved out its position as a reputable player in the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, it was the first company to introduce iron sucrose and nutritional infusions in the Uzbek market.

Major Milestones

One of Serene Pharma’s most significant milestones came with the establishment of Serene Healthcare, its state-of-the-art manufacturing unit in Uzbekistan. This ambitious initiative was designed to ensure self-reliance and reduce import dependency while reinforcing local employment and technological advancement. The company received GMP certification in 2021. This demonstrates its adherence to quality and safety standards. Furthermore, in 2022, it earned GDP certification for its 10,000 sq. m warehouse, thus boosting its operational capabilities and supply chain efficiency.

Giving Back to Society

Serene Pharma places social responsibility at the core of its mission. The company aims to make world-class medicines affordable and accessible across Central Asia for the happiness and well-being of communities. Over the past decade, the company has played a substantial role in improving healthcare accessibility and remains committed to this vital cause. Serene Pharma has also taken a multi-pronged approach to ensure its operations align with sustainable growth. Beyond its healthcare initiatives, Serene Pharma actively supports environmental sustainability. Through initiatives like tree-planting drives under the ‘Save Soil’ campaign and efforts to improve healthcare accessibility for underserved communities, Serene Pharma demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and inclusivity. Furthermore, its tireless marketing field force ensures that the company’s products are accessible in the most remote and underserved areas.

One of the most prominent financial services providers in India, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited has been offering holistic, standardized, and tech-led financial solutions in public wealth segment catering to the financial goals of various families, institutions, and high net worth individuals. Managing the business of private wealth since 2002 under the able guidance of Anand Rathi, the organization has won accolades for providing the best combination of mutual funds and structured financial products to financially empower its clients. The organization is considered one of the most reliable mutual fund distributor registered with the Association of Mutual Fund of India (AMFI).

It offers distinguished services in private wealth management, corporate finance and advisory, digital wealth management, investment advisory, portfolio management, on-banking finance, institutional equities, investment services, and brokerage and distribution services in the areas of equities, commodities, mutual funds, structured products, insurance, corporate deposits, bonds, and loans for its diverse client base.

USER-FRIENDLY PHYGITAL INTERFACE

After achieving huge success in private wealth solutions, the company launched AR Digital Wealth (DW vertical) in 2016 and extended its footprints in the fin-tech sector. The digital platform works through the phygital channel, which is an amalgamation of technology capabilities and human interface. This segment has earned miraculous progress in a short span and attracted independent financial advisors and other AMFI-registered mutual fund distributors to work and grow together by using the company’s research-oriented investment strategies and user-friendly technology interface to facilitate their clients.

CUSTOMER-ORIENTED APPROACH

Anand Rathi Wealth Limited caters to its customers with a dedicated entrepreneurial team of more than 230 Relationship Managers (RMs), adopting a process-driven approach aimed at achieving consistent financial benefits for its clients spread across 11 prime cities in India and Dubai. Over the years, the company has garnered expertise in public wealth management. The company devises high-quality and personalized result-oriented investment strategies to the utmost satisfaction of its customers. It has developed methods and strategies to screen the best financial products that provide consistent flow of money, thus increasing the customers’ wealth significantly.

As a prominent mutual fund distributor, the brand recommends financial products with a fusion of medium to long-term plans that provide good returns at low risk. In addition, it offers complementary services like estate planning, succession planning, and creating wills of its clients.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

Renowned for its unparalleled service, the organization has received the Customer Service Excellence Award at the “India Business Leader of the Year” organized by the World Leadership Congress in 2020. Due to its employee-friendly policies, the company has been certified as the “Great Place to Work.”

The organization has also gained international recognition from Asia Money and CFI International in London and Asian Private Banker in Hong Kong.

Other than asset management services Sundaram Asset Management Company offers financial planning, portfolio construction, and investment advisory services. As of November 30, 2020, Sundaram Asset Management had approximately INR 39,685 crores in assets under management.

The company’s strong commitment to making mutual funds available to everyone is the driving force behind its growth. Sundaram Asset Management Company manages funds for investors with varying risk, reward, and liquidity choices. With seventeen equity and eleven fixed-income funds, the company strives to meet a wide range of investors’ needs.

GLOBAL REACH

Sundaram Asset Management is a global asset management firm that works with clients all over the world. It currently offers 145 equity, 182 debt, and 36 hybrid mutual fund schemes. What’s more, it also has an office in Dubai and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Singapore named Sundaram Asset Management Singapore Pte Limited.

With over 1.1 million active investors and 93 branches throughout the country, the company also has a strong retail focus, with customer loyalty built on the strength of long-term revenue growth in the mid-cap space and an investor-friendly dividend payout strateg.

STRENGTHENING ITS MARKET POSITION

In 2021, Sundaram Asset Management Company acquired the Indian business of the global financial services major, Principal Financial Group, for 338.53 crores to reinforce its market position with the addition of a spectrum of programs with an impressive long-term performance track record throughout the large and mid-cap segments. A solid research team and a reliable process serve as the backbone of the company’s Fund Management team, which has an impressive track history of identifying “tomorrow’s players” in the small and mid-cap segments.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY

Sundaram Asset Management Company aims at making the world a better place through its preventive healthcare, water and sanitation, education, employability, and livelihood enhancement programs. It also takes measures to conserve public libraries and heritage, besides promoting art, craft, and culture, along with national and rural sports, and Paralympics and Olympic sports.

TOWERING ACHIEVEMENTS

It has been honoured with numerous awards and accolades for its matchless service. It received the Economic Times Best BFSI Brands Award in 2018 & 2019. It is also the recipient of the Economic Times Best Brands Award (2019). What’s more, the company has been recognized for the Innovative Launch Campaign of the year 2020 for Sundaram Bluechip Fund at the Global Marketing Excellence Awards by the World Marketing Congress. It was also honoured with the Best Brand Award at the Tamil Nadu Brand Leadership Awards 2020 by the World Marketing Congress.

Carrying the intent to render a holistic weight-loss solution and to provide a therapeutic approach for beauty, fitness and health, Vandana Luthra established VLCC as a groundbreaking one-stop beauty solution in the year 1989 (in 1996, it became VLCC Health Care Ltd). Ready to face any challenge that would come her way, she soon turned into the queen of wellness, expertly fending off the initial flak and criticism from the doctors and the medical fraternity. Soon her efforts yielded extraordinary results, as with her able leadership, she not only managed to get doctors and medical practitioners onboard. The envious progress may be judged against the fact that the Group’s operations currently span 330 locations in over 150 cities. The countries of its operations include UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand.

A Beautiful Journey Since beginning

When Ms Luthra started, there were hardly any women entrepreneurs. However, she believed in herself, her abilities and in the uniqueness of her concept.

Today, VLCC manages one of the largest chains of Slimming, Beauty & Fitness centers across Asia, besides running one of Asia’s largest networks of vocational education academies in Beauty & Nutrition.

Through its products manufactured in Switzerland and its plants in India and Singapore, it offers a comprehensive range of skin-care, hair-care and body-care products as well as nutraceuticals under the VLCC Natural Sciences™, SkinMTX™, BelleWave™, VLCC Slimmer’s™, VLCC Shape Up™, Specifix™ and VLCC Wellscience™ brands, which are not only used as consumables in treatments and therapies at all VLCC Wellness Centers globally but are also retailed through over 125,000 retail stores and beauty salons across South Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, South East Asia and East Africa.

To contribute towards its Corporate Social Responsibility, VLCC has contributed towards anti-obesity and has joined hands with Khushii a Delhi-based NGO headed by Kapil Dev.

They visualized, they executed, and they conquered the minds of billions of people of the world through their computer software skills and created a history that catapults the outlook of the users. Microsoft founded by Paul Allen and Bill Gates in 1975, in Mexico to develop and sell BASIC interpreters; soon they dominated the world by developing, selling, licensing, and manufacturing computer software solutions, consumer electronics, and personal computers.

THE WORLD THROUGH THE WINDOW

The vision of the world soon widened to the charisma of a digital world and technological advances developed by Microsoft, empowering the people, the corporate world, and the Government through their path breaking programmes like MS Office and Windows. The spectrum of the users changed as their vision penetrated through zenithal information, synchronized by Microsoft’s software programmes while their revenue touched a staggering US$89.95 billion and the number of employees worldwide to a whopping 124,000.

DIGITAL INDIA

Located in Hyderabad, extending their footprints in India in the year 1990, the Microsoft India Development Centre (MSiDC) is Microsoft’s largest software development center outside of their headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Presently, having offices in 9 Indian cities and employing approximately 6,500 people, it focuses towards becoming a key partner of the Indian Government and the local IT industry to support, empower, and be the catalyst to fuel the growth of the local IT industry through its partner enablement programmes. Microsoft intends to digitalize India, contribute towards sustainable economic growth, and social development committing them towards creating-greener, smarter, healthier, and prosperous cities. In synchrony with their mission to enhance India’s inclusive development, they empower startups and smart ideas, collaborate with them and become their reckoning force to present them in the market and become part of a steadily moving smarter India.

Microsoft paces their moves according to the growing needs by putting their clients at the centre, innovating constantly to reinvent productivity and business process, creating intelligent cloud platforms and linking the world through more personal computing solutions.

A Tale Of Vision & Innovation

Known for its revolutionary innovations, Tata Global Beverages is a world leader with a presence in 40+ countries. This pioneering brand has several popular products, with a consolidated revenue of $1.5 billion, under its umbrella. For 50 years, its delicious beverages have captured the imagination of people all over the world

Tata Global Beverages ’ journey to becoming one of India’s largest multinational conglomerates has been an inspiring one. By maintaining high standards of quality, it earned the goodwill of people all over the world. Till this day, the organization strives to strengthen the incredible legacy of Jamsetji Tata and his vision to enable India to produce everything at home, from salt to steel.

A Mighty Portfolio

Established in the 1960s, the organization has been procuring, acquiring and collaborating with the finest and most popular brands across continents to turn into the world’s largest beverages and drinks holdings company. The organization’s main focus is on tea, coffee and water and their production, procurement and distribution. With more than 250 million servings of its products being consumed every day, it is no surprise that Tata Tea, Tetley, Teapigs, Eight O’Clock Coffee, Himalayan Grand Coffee, Joekels, and Tata Gluco Plus are major market holders in the UK, Canada, US, India, South Africa and the Middle East along with dozens of other countries.

Tata Global Beverages is a proponent of the farm to table mantra. The organization is involved in several stages of tea and coffee production including manufacturing and exporting. The company has acquired or collaborated with Starbucks, Pepsico, James Finlay & Co., Allied Lyons, Consolidated Coffee and Tetley Ltd. to build a massive umbrella corporation. As a result, it has under its banner some of the most recognizable brands like Starbucks, Tetley, Tata Tea, Mount Everest, TiON and others. The company has also strategically allied and merged with other companies to enter several unexplored areas. In fact, it is the first Indian beverage company to run its operations in China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Innovations That Propel Business

To build a sustainable business in the long run, the organization has adopted a dynamic strategy to work with only quality suppliers and farmers. The organization has joined hands with highly competent partners who can assist in fulfilling its vision and business objectives. To keep up with the fast-paced world of technology, the company includes the
integration of ERP, modern Supply Chain Softwares and Content Management Systems in every step of its sales and procurement process. It is keen on bettering Human Resources Management and recruits only the best resources. It also has an elaborate supply chain methodology that ensures the smooth supply of all of the organization’s products. Tata Global Beverages believes that automation is the future. So it has implemented several systems to automatically manage the finance, accounting and even legal entries of its companies.

Tata Global Beverages is committed to being a socially responsible brand. Not only has it won several accolades and awards for its leading products, but it has also been recognized for its contributions towards climate and environmental sustainability.

Emaar Properties, being an integral part of the real estate industry in Dubai, takes pride in the fact that it has made significant contributions to put Dubai on the global platform as a developed real estate market. In 2013, when 160 nations voted for Dubai to host the prestigious Expo 2020, the real estate sector enjoyed a big boost. Since then, Emaar Properties has played a significant role in expanding facilities in preparation for the grand global event.

A RICH PORTFOLIO

Emaar Properties immensely values the trust its shareholders have placed in the company. It is this faith that has helped the organization to shape the country’s skyline. This belief and trust of the people have helped the company in attaining worldwide recognition. Emaar’s portfolio is a rich and diverse one. The company has successfully built the world’s largest mall along with world-class hotels and other places of luxury. Its shopping centres, retail and hospitality buildings, as well as other properties, are a reflection of its competency in the property market. Besides offering a lifestyle to its customers, the Group has strongly focussed on implementing excellent designs with great quality and has ensured timely delivery of all its projects. The company not only aspires to contribute significantly to the country’s economy but also hopes to add value to the lives of people.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

International standards of quality and designs par excellence have placed Emaar Properties in an elite league of companies across the world. Its success has been underlined by the numerous awards it has received. It has won the ‘Modern Luxury Hotel Award’ for its project – The Palace Downtown Dubai along with receiving the Traveller’s Choice Award in 2017. Emaar Properties has also received ‘The Contemporary Luxury Hotel Award of the Year 2017’ by Luxury Travel Guide Awards and ‘Mid-Market Launch of the Year’ at the inaugural Hotelier Express Awards.

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS

Emaar Properties has been conscious of the conservation of the environment and has drafted effective policies for ensuring environmental sustainability. The company spreads the same awareness to its employees and ensures strict adherence to the guidelines and policies. The company follows a work culture that poses minimum risks to the ecosystem.

In its attempt to maintain an environmentally sustainable work culture, the company has aligned itself to the ‘green vision’ of the UAE. By following methods of waste management and pollution control, the company brings environmental awareness to its various residential communities and its people.

EMAAR FOUNDATION

Despite scaling new heights in business and exploring novel possibilities in the real estate world, the company is still focussed on its social responsibility. It has been supporting the cause of Dubai Cares, which is a philanthropic organization providing education to underprivileged children. It is also connected with the Dream for Future Africa Foundation.

Micky Jagtiani, Chairman and Founder of the Landmark Group, started his retail business in 1973 with $6000 by opening a baby products shop in Bahrain, beginning a quintessential success voyage of excellence and international supremacy.

VISIONARY STEPS

Always staying ahead of its competition, Landmark Group has expanded quickly and strongly into several verticals of food, hotels and leisure, while creating its own extraordinary network of logistics and distribution. Gradually and firmly evolving into one of the largest retail and hospitality conglomerates internationally with an establishment of more than 2,300 operational outlets, being managed by more than 55,000 professionals, the Group has embraced more than 30 million square feet of retail space across 22 countries. It entered the Indian region in 1999, and opened its first Lifestyle store, LIFE Trust, in 2000. Next, Spar Hypermarkets were conceptualized in 2008 and then the Group celebrated the opening of its 2000th store in 2015.

HALLMARK OF EXCELLENCE

Offering its customers a diverse portfolio of about 60 world-class brands amalgamating in-house and franchise labels, it has created several category leaders.

Micky Jagtiani himself has conceptualized about half of these brand concepts, and has developed Landmark Group as the parent company of big players like Lifestyle, Max Fashion, Home Centre, Spar Hypermarkets and EasyBuy. In addition, Landmark Group has made an excellent mark in leisure, food, hospitality and healthcare sectors with Landmark Leisure, Balance Wellbeing 360, CITYMAX Hotels, Candelite, restaurant division Foodmark and iCare Clinics. Some of the prominent international brands of Landmark Group include Puket, Aerosoles and Reiss in addition to its hospitality division Zafran Indian Bistro, Carluccio’s & Fun Ville.

Its focus on making best options available to its customers has led it to become the largest importer of non-food items in the Gulf region. It also owns several labels & franchise rights for some leading global fashion names and footwear brands including the widely acclaimed shoe designer Steve Maddens. It also owns the Middle East franchise rights of the UK- based Fitness First chain. Micky Jagtiani also has a stake in Debenhams, which is hailed as the second largest apparel retailer of the UK.

BACK TO THE SOCIETY

Landmark International Foundation of Empowerment provides medical facilities and mid-day meals to underprivileged schoolchildren in India. It has also launched healthcare awareness initiatives such as Beat Diabetes and SHE programs.

Deeply committed to making a difference, the Landmark Group is focused on conducting its business responsibly, while ensuring the wellbeing of the society. As a Group, its committment extends towards making positive changes within the organization and the society. Leaders and employees are deeply aware of their responsibilities towards stakeholders, environment and society, and constantly strive to find new ways to improve the lives wherever they can, while reducing the environmental impact of their business activities.

The fate of telecom industry was sealed when the Reliance Industries Telecom upstart Jio’s voice over LTE (VoLTE) wireless 4G network, bedazzled the users and set the ball rolling to multiply the data usage exponentially, connecting India’s unconnected, and laying the telecom infrastructure at prices almost everyone could afford.

The deep pockets of Reliance industries and the vision of India’s richest man Mr. Mukesh Ambani had amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch in September 2016, by offering free voice and cut-price data for months.

MAKING THE WAVES

The grand entry of Reliance Jio changed the entire caricature of the telecom industry announcing a waveof generous offers, while the competitors steadied hard to fight a battle of prices.

The users jingled their way to be connected like never before without feeling the pinch of prices.

Mr. Ambani with a futuristic foresight became the facilitator with a messianic zeal to provide the data network, which according to him is an “essential infrastructure” that the country needs to drive to the next economic revolution. He laid a new vision, and paved the way for a much needed power of an interconnected world that could gain from internet penetration, especially for programs like e-governance, rural e-health, and e-agriculture; without a tight-fisted data usage and call rates that became affordable for all.

Free voice calls, cheap 4G data rates, dirt cheap 4G devices and the promise of industry wide unrestricted internet access catapult the entire industry into an important shift from pining for data and data scarcity, to potentially an era of data abundance. Correspondingly, it affects the country wise reduction of data rates due to the competition posed by Reliance Jio.

In a lightning fast move that has left the competitors gasping, Reliance Jio is here to stay and penetrate into the lives of millions of Indians connecting and communicating and empowering them with information that could change their lives and make a better India.

Earlier known as The Development Bank of Singapore Limited and renamed as DBS Bank in 2003, it is a multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Marina Bay Financial Centre Singapore. It has transformed from a regional bank to a global bank with Temasek Holdings being its largest and controlling shareholder.

MOST RELIABLE BANKING PARTNER

Set up by the Government of Singapore in 1968 to take over the industrial financing activities from the Economic Development Board, DBS has grown into more than 250 branches, 1100 ATMs across 50 cities and operates in 17 markets.

It has a strong capital position as well as “AA” and “Aa1” credit ratings by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. These ratings are considered among the highest in the Asia-Pacific region and therefore, DBS Bank is also known as the “Safest Bank in Asia”. Its other remarkable recognitions include being honoured as the “Best Digital Bank in the World” and the “World’s Best Bank”.

STRATEGIC ESTABLISHMENT

DBS Bank was established at the behest of United Nations which conducted an industrial survey mission in 1960 to assess the economical situation in Singapore with the objective to initiate an industrialisation programme for Singapore. United Nations proposed that a development bank must be established in Singapore along with an economic body to attract foreign investments and to finance and manage the industrial estates. On the basis of United Nations’ report, DBS was established with the primary objective of providing loans and financial aid to the manufacturing and processing industries, and to help establish and upgrade existing industries in Singapore.

To further extend its operations and reach, DBS Bank acquired the POSB Bank in 1998 which was also earlier known as the Post Office Savings Bank since it was established in 1877 by the British Colonial Government in Singapore. With the acquisition of POSB Bank, DBS Bank received one million depositors and deposits of more than 1 billion SGD, which instantly gave it a dominant market share as its number of customers crossed more than four million. All the branches of POSB Bank which were already the highest in Singapore especially in the suburban neighbourhoods and all its ATM outlets which were also the highest in number in Singapore came under DBS Bank’s jurisdiction. The shared facilities also strengthened DBS Bank immensely.

STRONG INTERNATIONAL MARK

With its branches and offices in mainland China, Dubai, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, SouthKorea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, United Kingdom and United States, it is strategically located in the key trade and financial hubs of several countries.

Such a strong international presence has helped it immensely in offering a comprehensive range of commercial and corporate banking services to a large number of international clients.

In China, it has become the only bank among nine foreign banks to receive an approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) to prepare for local incorporation in Mainland China.