HLL Mulls Ayush Spas At Hotels

Marks FMCG Giant’s Second Foray Into Services Sector

Jaidev Majumdar - Mumbai

Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) is considering using its Ayush ayurvedic brand to set up health spas in hotels across the country. The FMCG giant has sounded out leading hotels here to try out the spas, which will offer unique ayurvedic solutions in weight reduction, cleansing and detoxification, among others.

Many leading hotels in the country have already set up health spas and HLL’s entry is well-timed, a hotel official said. “Operating margins at hotel spas are huge,” he said.

The spa venture will be HLL’s second for foray into the services sector after the Lakme Salons. The company has used the Ayush brand to successfully push its range of herbal products, and has already set up 10 ayurvedic therapy centres (ATCs) in south India.

An HLL spokesperson said the company has not taken a decision on setting up spas at hotels. However, the spokesperson said, it will be a natural extension of the ATC project. “We have decided to expand our ATC operations but have not decided on setting up spas in hotels,” the spokesperson said.

The ATCs are a joint venture between the Coimbatore-based Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and HLL, which provides ayurvedic solutions through lifestyle and dietary advice and ayurvedic processes. HLL entered the business in 2003 and has created a separate division to run it.

The HLL spokesperson declined to comment on the revenues sharing model with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy but said that the Coimbatore-base firm has a rich tradition in ayurveda and is in charge of authenticating all prescriptions of the ATCs. The ATCs all provide personalised health advice and therapy to customers on positive health and stress relief, aches and pain relief as well as consultation for health loss, skin are and health care. HLL’s ayurveda venture has helped it gain a foothold in the emerging herbal healthcare market. The company has launched a series of herbal products under the Lever Ayush brandname.