deccan health care ltd Management discussions


Industry structure and developments:

The nutraceuticals market consists of sales of dietary supplements, functional food, medicinal food, and farmaceuticals.

The nutraceuticals are classified as food but are also used for medical purposes. Nutraceuticals are specially designed consumable products from various food sources that contain a high concentration of bioactive compounds that have several nutritional, health, and medicinal benefits.

Nutraceutical products and supplements can be taken by an individual along with a normal daily diet to get additional nutrients to promote good health and wellbeing. Nutraceutical products are used to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, increase life expectancy, and support the physical and mental health of an individual.

They are also proven to have a potentially positive effect on health conditions like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, inflammation, cancer, and others. The main types of nutraceuticals are vitamins and minerals; probiotics; proteins and peptides; omega fatty acids; and others. Vitamins and minerals are nutrients required for the bodys daily functioning.

Vitamins and minerals are added into food products to increase the nutritional value of food to improve the health of an individual and provide them with high immunity. These are classified according to their source, which can be plant, animal, or microbial.

These nutraceutical products are used in various applications, such as functional food, functional beverages, dietary supplements, personal care, animal nutrition, and others. They have various product forms, which are capsules, tablets, softgels, powder, liquids, and gummies.

The various distribution channels through which nutraceuticals are available are specialty stores; supermarkets and hypermarkets; convenience stores; drug stores and pharmacies; online retail stores; and other distribution channels.

Indias Nutraceutical Market Growth:

As per recent statistics, Indias preventive healthcare sector is expected to reach $197 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 22%.

Consumers of today want to be proactive in how they approach their health. If the pandemic was a wake-up call for everyone, the last three years have further increased peoples understanding of how they need to take charge of their lifestyles and what they consume. What started as prevention and a way to improve immunity is today a holistic approach to self-improvement and nutrition is a vital element of this change. They want to ensure that what they eat is clean and supports their endeavor to improve their well-being.

In 2017, the Indian market held only a 2% market share of the global nutraceutical market and its estimated valuation stood at around $5 billion as of 2019. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% between 2023 and 2028.

The Indian nutraceuticals industry has been growing at 25% annually during the pandemic. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has also increased.

The nutraceutical market in India is witnessing significant growth, driven by increasing health consciousness, rising disposable income, and urbanization. Consumers are seeking natural and safe alternatives to support their health and well-being.

Nutraceuticals in India fall under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI regulates the manufacturing, labeling, and safety standards of nutraceutical products to ensure consumer protection and product quality.

The Indian government is promoting the use of traditional and natural ingredients in the nutraceutical sector.

It has also initiated various programs to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants and herbs used in nutraceutical products.

Year 2022-23 for the company:

Today, nutraceuticals are becoming integral to both the management of specific health issues as well as a persons overall health. With digital technology and the growth in D2C and e-commerce channels, our brands are able to provide better access to high-quality and effective nutrition and supplements that suit the needs of every individual. For instance, despite ample sunlight, most Indians have been found to be deficient in Vitamin D. With our diet, it is sometimes hard for us to get sufficient amount of some nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. This is where our products like O3D3, Oxyflax Global, ZnC Nutratab are increasingly being used to support and develop immunity and address specific lifestyle requirements like sleep, bone, heart, brain, and eye health, and overall physical and mental wellness. The positive move in the market is that supplements are no longer perceived as medicines but a daily nutritional intake.

Consumers today want clean alternatives that is tracked in terms of its source and quality. They expect brands to be transparent about the ingredients used and whether these are backed by adequate scientific research and evidence. We as the emerging pioneers in nutraceutical industry are also responding to these evolving consumer preferences by investing in R&D and innovation. There are products like Tulsi Satt, Notodengue, Curcumin tablets among others, which are emerging as viable alternatives for those who need supplementation. These supplements target either specific health issues or focus on overall wellness.

The millennial and Gen Z consumer is always on-the-go but is also aware of the need to take care of their health. They thus need nutraceuticals in a way that can be integrated with their daily routine while also allowing them to follow their own regime. Our Nutridecc products are formulated to meet the nutritional needs and challenges as they arise. Today, with the increasing use of digital screens a wide variety of problems such as Screen Eye Syndrome, Text Neck and Brain Fog have emerged. Our Nutridecc brand of products is scientifically formulated to plug the nutritional challenges which may solve these problems while also providing lifestyle tips and exercises to remain healthy.

We are also responding to the industry demand of customer experience and product innovation by making the supplements available in the form of tablets, application oils, and even mixes which can be consumed on the go. We address the second aspect to putting the consumer first is that the brands are creating experiences and not just products by helping the customers understand what they are ingesting or using. Organowild Lavender oil can be applied to the temples, back of the neck, bottom of feet & pulse points to experience its calming grounding effect. Breathing in the scent of lavender both lessens anxiety and improves mood. It may also help promote sleep and fight insomnia.

Threats and key challenges faced by Nutraceutical segment in India:

Trust worthiness: There have been instances fake or counterfeit products which are unregistered and unapproved, and it has led to skepticism from consumers as well as industry trade community.

The Indian consumer is prescription oriented and so companies try to promote their products through doctors. This approach lacks growth and companies need to look for a more direct route to the consumer.

Pricing: increase in raw-material pricing impact the product pricing. Price variation can be found in the quality of raw materials and ingredients, efficacy, and innovation behind each formula. The ingredients in your supplements make all the difference.

The FSSA has consolidated a collection of earlier laws relating to food and nutraceutical safety and standards. However, no concrete regulations are in force and the government is still seeking draft suggestions. Nutraceutical companies themselves feel that regulations related to quality and safety will benefit the industry and will keep a check on unregulated practices. Presently, the fragmentary nature of the regulations is making it difficult for players to comply fully or to make necessary investments.

Outlook and future trends:

After a certain age, especially after 65 years or above, an individual requires additional nutrients to build immunity to fight against a number of diseases like diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other age-related issues. Nutraceuticals are used as daily supplements to meet the daily requirements of nutrients.

For instance, in 2020, according to the United Nations, there were approximately 727 million people aged 65 and above worldwide, and that number is expected to reach approximately 1.5 billion by 2050. Therefore, the rise in the geriatric population is driving the growth of the nutraceutical market.

The nutraceuticals market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 15% between 2023 and 2028. Buoyed by the prospects in the Indian market, many global nutraceutical companies are shifting their focus to the country. Add to this is the fact that consumers in the country are also looking for quality and effectiveness of the products more than the pricing. Here are some trends that will pave the way for further growth of the market in the year ahead.

Augmenting the need for cleaner alternatives for nutrition

New product development is the key trend being followed by the companies operating in the nutraceutical market. on the other hand, is rooted in its values of knowledge, transparency, sustainability, community, and excellence, which applies to every process, including formulation and ingredients. Additionally, they conduct third-party testing for all their products and have certificates of analyses (COAs) as well to provide to customers.

The global nutraceuticals market size was USD 291.33 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% from 2023 to 2030. The primary factors driving the market growth are preventive healthcare, increasing instances of lifestyle-related disorders, and rising consumer focus on health-promoting diets. Additionally, increasing consumer spending power in high-growth economies is projected to contribute to the growing demand for nutraceutical products. The growing demand for dietary supplements and nutraceuticals is also attributed to consumer preferences shifting towards self-directed care in the treatment of lifestyle disorders such as cardiovascular disorders and malnutrition.

Risks and Concerns:

The analysis shown above clearly depicts the major risks and concerns involved in nutraceutical segment. The strategy of your Company to de-risk against these factors is also outlined in the said Sections.

Internal Control Systems and their adequacy:

The Company has established a well-defined process of risk management, wherein the identification, analysis and assessment of the various risks, measuring the probable impact of such risks, formulation of risk mitigation strategy and implementation of the same takes place in a structured manner. Though the various risks associated with the business cannot be eliminated completely, all efforts are made to minimize the impact of such risks on the operations of the Company. Necessary internal control systems are also put in place by the Company on various activities across the board to ensure that business operations are directed towards attaining the stated organizational objectives with optimum utilization of resources. Apart from these internal control procedures, a well-defined and established system of internal audit is in operation. The results of operations and financial conditions are affected by numerous factors including the following:

• Supply and availability of raw material/traded goods;

• Competition from existing and new entrants; Performance of our distribution channel;

• Brand image;

• Rate of interest policies;

• Economic and Demographic conditions; and Changes in laws and regulations that apply to Nutraceutical Industry in domestic and overseas market.

Discussion on Financial Performance with respect to the Operational Performance:

On a standalone basis, your Company recorded net sales of Rs. 4,503.80 Lakhs during the financial year 2022-23 as compared to Rs. 3339.19 Lakhs in the previous financial year 2021-22, whereas the Net Profit during the financial year 2022-23 stood at Rs. 45.56 Lakhs as compared to a net profit of Rs. 32.42 Lakhs in financial year 2021-22 leading to the Basic Earnings Per Share of Rs. 0.27/- for the financial year 2022-23 as compared to Rs.0.21/- in financial year 2021-22.

On a Consolidated basis, your Company recorded Net sales of 4504.10 Lakhs during the financial year 2022-23 as compared to 3339.19 Lakhs in the previous financial year 2021-22, whereas the Net Profit during the financial year 2022-23 stood at Rs. 36.40 Lakhs as compared to a net profit of Rs 32.26 Lakhs in financial year 2021-22 leading to the Basic Earnings Per Share of Rs.0.22/- for the financial year 2022-23 as compared to Rs. 0.21/- in financial year 2021-22.

Significant changes (i.e. change of 25% or more as compared to the immediately previous financial years) in Key Financial Ratios, along with explanation are as under:

Ratios FY 2022-23 FY 2021-22
Debtor turnover ratio 3.62 2.62
Inventory turnover ratio 0.54 0.31
Interest coverage ratio 6.58 4.58
Current ratio 6.11 6.47
Debt- Equity Ratio 0.01 0.08
Operating Profit margin 1.56 1.43
Net Profit Margin 1.01 0.98
Return on Net worth 0.57 0.42

References:

www.fssai.gov.in

• www.biovoicenews.com

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

https://foodsafetyhelpline.com/nutraceuticals-challenges-fast-growing-sector-india/