Dentistree plans to have 50 centres in three years

VV Dentistree Pvt Ltd, which runs the Dentistree chain of dental care, is planning to expand its operations with total of 50 centres in the next three years. The company expects a total investment of around Rs 25 crore to set up these centres both in India and overseas.

“We are focusing on the franchise model for expansion, so there would not be much investment from our part. However, our expectations are that it would require around Rs 40 lakh investment for every new centre,” said Mir Ali, executive director, Dentistree.

The company operates nine centres — six in Chennai and one each in the neighbouring districts of Kanchipuram, Kalpakkam, and Vellore. It also has a centre in Puducherry. It would add centres in various parts of the country to reach the target of 50 in the next three years.

It is in the process of opening centres in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and would commence operations in these states in the next few months. Plans are to open centres in Tier I and II cities in these states.

Meanwhile, the company is also planning to set up dental hospitals overseas, including in West Asian and North African countries.

The company has finalised talks with local partners in Adis Ababa, in Ethiopia, and plans are to open its first centre there within six months.

It is also in advanced stage of talks with a local partner to set up operations in Dubai through a joint venture. It would open six centres in West Asia in the next two years.

Ali said they were also looking at setting up centres in North African countries including Tanzania and Kenya in future.

The company is expecting Rs 60 crore as turnover from the overall operations in the next three years, he said. Malaysia-based Qualitas Medical Group, a primary healthcare network which has presence in India, New Zealand and Cambodia, has around 40 per cent stake in Dentistree.