Wockhardt sets Rs 70-crore target for nutrition business

Pharmaceuticals group Wockhardt Ltd estimated that its nutritional products business has made sales of Rs 70 crore in the first year of operations ended December 1998. This division comprises medical nutrition, infant nutrition and OTC nutrition range.

According to company sources, the projection for the three nutrition segments are Rs 20 crore for medical nutrition, Rs 30 crore for infant nutrition and Rs 30 crore for OTC nutrition range.

Wockhardt, a part of the Khorakiwala group, has been approached by some Indian and foreign companies for manufacturing infant and medical nutrition products at its 4,000-tonnes per annum manufacturing facility at Chandigarh.

"We are looking at contract manufacturing seriously as we can double the capacity with a minimal investment of Rs 30 to 40 lakh," says a top Wockhardt official. Currently, 60 per cent of the capacity is utilised to make OTC nutrition products, based on market demand. The spare capacity is used to make the company's Farm Fresh range of products.

 The medical nutritional products range of Wockhardt includes Nutrocal (described as wholesome nourishment for hospitalised patients), Nutrocal DM (for hospitalised patients) and protein therapy product Nutriport for patients at home. The company has recently launched Nutrenal and Nutrenal CRF for patients on dialysis and chronic renal failure. The OTC range comprises the recently introduced Farm Fresh brands like 'milk-for-tea' 'coffee-creamer' and ghee.