Human life is completely dependent on nature but due to the constant depletion in the quality of soil, water and air, the well-being of life on Earth has been impacted. There is a lack of nutritive food due to depleted soil health, and the rising level of air and water pollution. These reasons have caused a lot of health issues. However, this problem of nutrition deficit and the impact of environmental pollution on health can be managed better with organic supplements that are available in the form of pills, capsules, powders and syrups.
Krishan Guptaa, Founder and Managing Director of Organic Wellness Products Private Limited, in conversation with The Organic Magazine, explains how organic lifestyle and organic health supplements could address nutritional and health-oriented challenges.
What was your vision behind starting Organic Wellness?
Organic Wellness started with the vision to create a win-win business model for everyone in the supply chain where land, farmers, team members, customers, distributors/store owners all share a common vision to be benefitted, which ultimately helps conserve the environment and attain sustainability. Organic Wellness encourages farmers to practice Vedic farming along with the use of Indian cow dung and urine as manure in place of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to preserve the natural richness of the soil. This helps farmers to earn premium prices. As they are not dependent on costly HYV seeds and chemical fertilisers, they become self-reliant. The authentic organic products also make customers happy.
Tell us about your experience about working at the grassroot level to achieve desired results?
While most companies are operating in the cities and towns, Organic Wellness prefers to have their presence in the remote village called Babai in Bundelkhand to ensure complete traceability from seeds to the finished product. The products are processed and packed in the modern manufacturing plant in the village. These products are based on India’s legacy of over 5,000 years blended with modern science and research. Each batch gets tested for insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals and microbiology so that customers can use the best quality products. This approach at the grassroot level not only supports the marginalised farmers, but also provides employment and empowers the village women.
Are your products equally beneficial for kids?
The organic segment is generally popular among the grown-ups, but it also has a lot to offer to the kids. The authentic organic range of food items is for everyone in the family, including kids. The key is to get them more accustomed to being open to trying authentic organic products at an early age to ensure they are happy and healthy. Organic Wellness have products for kids which have no artificial colour, preservatives and flavour, like:
Health Full On – It is a chocolate drink to go with milk offering benefits of Curcumin, Brahmi, Ashwagandha and Saffron.
Organic Chocolates – Our range of chocolates consists of Premium Dark, Moringa Chocolate, Turmeric Chocolate, and Ashwagandha Chocolate, which taste good and provide better health benefits compared to typical chocolate drinks, which are essentially made with milk powder and sugar.
Tomato Sauce/Ketchup: It is made from high-quality fresh tomatoes and has a delicious flavour and free from any preservatives, additives, emulsifiers, etc.
What are your strategic plans for Organic Wellness?
India has a long way to go and we have just begun. Certainly, Covid-19 has created the awareness about organic food and products, and there is a big shift to healthy nutritious food in India as well as across the world. I see great future for companies working on creating authentic products, business with a purpose and having their own manufacturing bases in remote villages.
My strategy for the company is to work with like-minded business partners in India and overseas. The focus is to open 5,000 stores in India and have a presence in at least 50 countries in the next three years. Our store business model is low cost, which can be operated from the comfort of homes or small spaces, and are profitable from the first month. It is most suitable for women to operate from home in small cities too.
Your take: organic food vs supplements?
A large section of the population believes eating good food is sufficient to be healthy and it is better to avoid taking supplements. However, we have regular interactions with end consumers through exhibitions, conferences and educational videos to share the benefits of consuming organic food. It is important to educate customers on chemical-based food supplements which are popular in the name of natural/herbal supplements to ride the wave of health / organic segment. We educate customers to use organic whole herb supplements in addition to consuming organic food to stay fit and healthy. It is like overhauling your vehicle to avoid breakdowns. Organic whole herbs supplements play the same role.
Where do you see Organic Wellness’ role in promoting sustainability?
Organic Wellness was born as a creative solution that focusses on the well-being of every aspect of the production and consumer. Hence, it has set up a state-of-the-art plant in the remote village of Babai, Bundelkhand, where no industrialist would ever venture out, showing our commitment to working with marginalised farmers, providing them means of livelihood, and reducing the exodus from villages. The Organic Wellness business model, in fact, is now a case study at ISB-IVEY Management Colleges viz., Organic Wellness: Influencing Consumer Decisions via Cause Marketing.
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