Patanjali to tie up with Future Group

Yoga guru Ramdev's Patanjali Group is set to tie up with Kishore Biyani-led retail major Future Group. To reveal the business deal between the two groups, Biyani, Ramdev and his close aide Bal Krishna - who also holds several key positions in Patanjali's various arms - will hold a press conference on Friday in Delhi.

While Patanjali did not respond to queries on the purpose of a tie-up with the retail major, a Future Group official said, "A tie-up or association for the food & FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) products between Future Group and Patanjali Group will be announced." He, however, declined to reveal more details.

The group's flagship entity Patanjali Ayurved (PAL), which was co-founded by Ramdev in 2006 as a private limited company and eventually converted into a public limited company in 2007, currently produces FMCG products ranging from branded basmati rice to noodles, and toothbrush to juices. Riding on the yoga guru's brand value and personal endorsement for its products, PAL is among the top FMCG companies in the country, ahead of Jyothi Labs. While Emami Ltd and global FMCG major Procter & Gamble has annual sales of Rs 2,031 and Rs 2,334 crore, respectively, PAL is not far behind, breathing on their neck at Rs 2,028 crore, according to CARE Ratings. While Ramdev does not hold any stake in the company, he is frequently seen endorsing PAL's products, the latest being during the launch of Patanjali's instant noodles last month.