Dabur… founded in our very own Calcutta, as it was then called.
The story begins with a small, but visionary endeavour by Dr. S.K. Burman, a physician tucked away in Bengal. His mission was to provide effective and affordable cure for ordinary people in far-flung villages. With missionary zeal and fervour, Dr. Burman undertook the task of preparing natural cures for the killer diseases of those days, like cholera, malaria and plague.
Soon the news of his medicines travelled, and he came to be known as the trusted ‘Daktar’ or Doctor who came up with effective cures. And that is how his venture Dabur got its name – derived from the Devanagri rendition of Daktar Burman.
In 1884, he launched his mission to make health care products in Calcutta and set up Dabur to produce and dispense Ayurvedic medicines. With growing popularity of Dabur products, Dr. Burman expanded his operations by setting up a manufacturing plant for mass production of formulations in 1896.
In the early 1900s, Dabur entered the specialized area of nature-based Ayurvedic medicines, for which standardized drugs were not available in the market and in 1919, established research laboratories to develop scientific processes and quality checks for mass production of traditional Ayurvedic medicines.
1920 saw setting up new manufacturing units at Narendrapur and Daburgram and distribution of Dabur products spreading to Bihar and the North-East.
In 1972, Dabur’s operations shifted to Delhi. A new manufacturing plant was set up in temporary premises in Faridabad on the outskirts of Delhi.
1979, witnessed the start of Commercial production in the new Sahibabad factory, one of the largest and best equipped production facilities for Ayurvedic medicines and also the launch of full-fledged research operations in pioneering areas of health care with the establishment of the Dabur Research & Development Centre (DRDC).
In 1992, Dabur entered into a joint venture with Agrolimen of Spain, to manufacture and market confectionery items in India.
1993, Dabur entered the specialised health care area of cancer treatment with its oncology formulation plant at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.
Dabur entered into a Joint Venture with Osem of Israel for food and Bongrain of France for Cheese & other dairy products in 1995.
In 1997, Dabur entered full-scale in the nascent processed foods market with creation of a Foods Division.
Acquisitions:
2005: Balsara Hygiene and Home products businesses, a leading provider of Oral Care and Household Care products in the Indian Market.
2008: Fem Care Pharma, a leading player in the women skin care market.
2011: Ajanta Pharma’s over-the-counter brand ’30-Plus.
Dabur entered the professional skin care market in 2011 with the launch of Oxylife Professional Facial Kit, created exclusively for professional use. The range was further expanded with the launch of facials and a body bleach under the brand Fem.
Dabur India is also a world leader in Ayurveda with a portfolio of over 250 Herbal/Ayurvedic products. Dabur’s FMCG portfolio today includes five flagship brands with distinct brand identities– Dabur as the master brand for natural health care products, Vatika for premium personal care, Hajmola for digestives, Réal for fruit juices and beverages and Fem for fairness bleaches and skin care products.
Dabur today operates in key consumer product categories like Hair Care, Oral Care, Health Care, Skin Care, Home Care and Foods. The Ayurvedic Company has a wide distribution network, covering 6.7 million retail outlets with a high penetration in both urban and rural markets.
Dabur India’s FMCG portfolio today includes eight distinct PowerBrands – Dabur Amla, Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Honey, Honitus, Pudin Hara, Dabur Lal Tail, Réal and Vatika.
Dabur’s products also have huge presence in the overseas market sand are today available in over 100 countries across the globe. Its brands are highly popular in the Middle East, SAARC countries, Africa, US, Europe and Russia. Dabur’s overseas revenue today accounts for over 27% of the total turnover.
If you have a question, share it in the comments below or DM us or call us – +91 9051052222. We’ll be happy to answer it.
– Melvyn Pinto
