The early bird has always enjoyed an edge over rivals. Founded in 1930, the Himalaya Drug Company (HDC) today is one of the biggest healthcare companies in India. HDC CEO Ravi Prasad talks about the herbal healthcare market and the company's plans. The herbal healthcare market has of late been doing well in India. How do you see this trend?

The herbal healthcare sector is witnessing a renaissance. It has come up as an alternative to monopolistic conventional synthetic products. This revival has ensured longevity for herbal companies, and hence there has been a flurry of companies entering the market. The sector, which is now growing at a rate of 15 -20 per cent per annum, will grow at a faster rate in years to come.

Globally too, this market has been growing rapidly. Is there a big potential for Indian companies here ?
The herbal health and personal care market in India is estimated at Rs. 2,500-3,000 crore, while the global market is estimated at $62 billion. We have a lot of experience in herbal healthcare and can carve a major space for ourselves globally.

How much has the rebranding exercise helped Himalaya ?
Sales have picked up after we rebranded the company. People have accepted 'Himalaya' as a brand. Our goal now is to make Himalaya India's first international herbal healthcare brand.

Himalaya's new offerings have become popular. The personal care products are doing well. The herbal healthcare segment is an assortment of unorganized players. Himalaya is one of the few players which decided to be an exception. We realized the huge potential of the segment and cashed in. Our products enter the market after years of research. We do not want to rush a product into the market.. This has helped us win the confidence of the customer.