Chandigarh: The glorious saga of Venky’s now extends to Punjab Haryana and rajasthan with its sensationalising entry in cattle feeds division. Adding another feather to the cap, is the initiative of Cattle feed plant at Khanna Punjab. The exhubirant launch ascertains that Venky’s is here with plans to create a big impact.

After the remarkable success in Poultry industry, Venky’s is all set to cater the dairy industry with its cattle feed products, namely Hi- Yield and Dairy Special.

By entering into cattle feed, VH Group, the pioneers in poultry industry has broaden its horizon. Like any other initiative at Venky’s, the Cattle Feed plant at Khanna is designed with the state of the art infrastructure, which is well equipped with technologically advanced tools and machinery imported from buhler of switzerland, to ensure the qualitative as well as the quantitative aspects of the products, the company has entered in to a MoU with the university of Nottingham UK. Leveraging on well planned in house facilities and the effort of dedicated workforce, VH Group, aims to be the leading manufacturer and supplier of Cattle Feed with initial production capacity of 3000 MT of pellet feed per month.

About VH Group: The VH group was established in 1971, when motivated by his wife Late Smt. Uttaradevi Rao, our founder Chairman Late Padmashree Dr. B.V.Rao, fondly referred to as “The Father of the Indian Poultry Industry”, established Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd. in Pune (India). Today the group is popularly known the world over as “Venky’s”. With a unique combination of expertise and experience and supported by strategic collaborations, the company diversified its activities to include SPF eggs, chicken and eggs processing, broiler and layer breeding, genetic research and Poultry diseases diagnostic, Poultry vaccines and feed supplements, vaccine production, bio-security products, Poultry feed & equipments, nutritional health products, soya bean extract and many more. Today the group is the largest fully integrated poultry group in Asia. The VH group today plays proud parent to a number of reputed organizations under its wide umbrella and successfully caters to poultry and its allied sectors. The pioneering efforts of the VH Group have been well rewarded with several national and international awards. By keeping Quality and Technology as their guiding stars, VENKY’S has consistently fulfilled its commitment to QUALITY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY by ensuring that it not only manufactures products using high-end technology but also delivers actual value to its customers through its products and services.

B.Venkatesh Rao, Joint Managing Director VH Group, told Feedinfo News Service that the company is carrying forward the legacy of his father, the late Padmashree Dr B V Rao, who started Venky’s. His vision was to lead India as “number one on the global poultry map”.

Rao says he is passionate about providing cost-effective superior quality poultry feed and comprehensive poultry diagnostic services to their customers in both India and overseas.

Feedinfo News Service spoke with Rao to get a better feel for Venky’s progress to date, its predictions for the industry in India, and the company’s overseas expansion plans.

[Feedinfo News Service] Mr Rao, what are your forecasts for poultry and egg consumption in India for the years to come? What are the main drivers?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] India ranks in the top five in the world in terms of total egg production, and top ten in poultry meat production. The broiler industry is growing at 18-20 % annually while the egg industry is growing at 7-8 % annually.

I believe that the Indian poultry industry is yet to reach the threshold and will still grow due to the favourable conditions generated during recent past, such as:
• The National Institute of Nutrition has recommended 180 eggs and 11 kg of meat (all type of meat) annual per capita consumption for our country.
• Presently, per capita annual consumption of poultry meat has increased up to 3.5 kg.
• At present, per capita consumption of eggs has increased to 53 eggs.
• 350 million people will be in the middle income group by 2025 and will form the major purchasing community.
• Youth population percentage of India is the highest in the world.
• Increase in the trend of mall culture, as well as an increase in the percentage of working couples at all social levels.
• The positive role of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) and the All India Broiler Farmers Marketing Cooperative Ltd (Bromark) is also instrumental in the growth of the egg and meat industry.
• The nationwide network of disease diagnostic laboratories and facilities for entrepreneurial development and training in both private and public sectors will further enhance the development of the poultry industry.
• Last but not the least, poultry meat is generally favoured and accepted by the majority of the religions of India.

[Feedinfo News Service] India was seen as a promising market for fast food chicken consumption in a Feedinfo News Service interview with Jim Jerzyk, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations for Yum Brands, Parent Co of KFC. Is this an area Venky’s intends to explore?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Being the core supplier of Chicken to KFC and McDonald’s, we are also coming up with our chain of outlets with the brand name, “Venky’s XPRS”. We have planned to start about 40 outlets throughout India within a couple of years. Our team of dedicated professionals is also working on the feasibility of opening our outlets in UK, Gulf, Middle East and South East Asian countries.

[Feedinfo News Service] In February, Feedinfo News Service interviewed Ricky Thaper, Treasurer of the Poultry Federation of India. He was encouraged by clear interests from American counterparts in exploring the possibilities of joint ventures in India. Is Venky’s looking into such possibilities?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] I respect and appreciate the views of Mr. Ricky Thaper about exploring the possibilities of joint ventures with American Poultry Companies. I wish to add here that Venky’s has been in joint ventures with Charles River Spafas, Cobb-Vantress and Isa-Babcock for specific pathogen free (SPF) eggs, broilers and layers respectively for the last 30 years. Venky’s is flexible enough to discuss the possibilities of joint ventures in any kind of innovative business proposal of mutual interest.

[Feedinfo News Service] India’s National Policy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance has just put a cap on the use of antibiotics in poultry products. Are you using antibiotics in your products? What do you think about their use in the industry?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We appreciate and ensure strict adherence to the food safety laws and the public health regulatory policies of the different countries as well as of our own country. Further, we welcome the move of the government for implementing the ban of antibiotic usage in poultry products. For a long time we have adopted these policies for our entire range of poultry products. Our Animal Health Products Division has the complete product range for disease prevention and treatment.

[Feedinfo News Service] Your Q4 2010 results showed a significant increase in animal health product revenue (74.2%). Does Venky’s intend to put greater emphasis on this area of its business in the longer term?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Venky’s core business policy is to provide solutions to poultry farmers. We are dedicated to our mission of providing quality through technology. Considering the growth of AHP business, we are expanding our existing production facility and we are introducing new production lines. Our R&D Team is working incessantly on the development of new and innovative products for the betterment of poultry industry.

[Feedinfo News Service] You have taken your first step into Latin America with Venky’s do Brasil which will act as a hub for distribution of vaccines and animal health care products in Latin America. Can you give me an overview on how Venky’s sees that developing in coming months? How will you be adapting your product range for the Latin market and which countries will you initially be distributing to?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Our strategy is to offer our range of quality products to consumers at affordable price through the network of distributors.

We are in discussion with many clients for distribution of all our products like vaccines, AHP and disinfectants. By order of priority, we will focus on Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador (incl. Bolivia, Peru, Colombia), Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

[Feedinfo News Service] This month, the Poultry Industries National Council reported poultry production had fallen in Bangladesh by nearly 18 percent in nine months. In September you launched operations in Bangladesh with your factory in Jessore. How have you found the market there? Are you reaching your estimated production capacity of 4,500 tons and what are your expectations for your Bangladesh plant over the coming months?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We are aware of the issue. We are optimistic that government of Bangladesh will take the encouraging steps in the months to come for the betterment of Bangladesh poultry industry. We are also ready with our expertise to provide the required services and solutions to the Bangladesh poultry farmers. We have already established 2 diagnostic laboratories which are providing technical services to the poultry farmers at the free of cost. We are in the process of establishing 3 more diagnostic laboratories.

Venky’s own chain of fast food outlets

We are also coming up with an aqua feed plant for the production of high quality floating fish feed. Further, through our cost effective quality feed, we are confident to achieve the estimated targets during this financial year.

[Feedinfo News Service] In June we reported on the fact you were building a feed plant with a capacity of 4500 in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. Why did you choose to invest here and can you give us an update on its progress?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] We have already started the production of poultry feed in Tay Ninh, Vietnam and the response is encouraging. Since the policies of the Vietnam government are friendly for foreign investment and there is a growth in the consumption of white meat in Vietnam and neighbouring ASEAN countries, we have established our feed unit as well as diagnostic laboratories in Vietnam. It is also convenient to explore the ASEAN market from Vietnam.

[Feedinfo News Service] Lastly, Venky’s has acquired Blackburn Rovers, making it the first Indian-owned English Premier League Club. How has this impacted on your international brand image?

[B.Venkatesh Rao] Genuinely speaking, we have not acquired Blackburn Rovers for any kind of brand mileage, but out of sheer passion and love for the game of football. We are delighted and humbled to be associated Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions. But yes, this deal has eventually given us the recognition and mileage across the football loving countries.

salman khan led bollywood stars studded “TEAM VENKYS” enjoying a game of cricket against Tollywood stars led by venketesh.

The core objective behind participation in VIV Asia was to showcase Uttra Impex Pvt. Ltd; a Venky’s group company which handles the entire import and export of various products from the group. The event also provided an international platform to showcase Venky’s brand along with its upcoming projects – A State-Of-The-Art Poultry Vaccine manufacturing plant in Switzerland and Feed Plants in Bangladesh & Vietnam, respectively. Venky’s successfully displayed its diverse range of products and the verticals from its group companies. To specifically mention a few – Indian market presence, Market Share, Major milestones of the Venky’s, Portfolio of product and services of the Animal Health Products,Poultry Vaccines, Premixes, and Bio-security products . Venky‘s also exhibited its range of quality food products including the latest Human Health Products, its QSR Venky’s Xprs, Chicken in Minutes etc. The state of the art stall promoting Blackburn Rovers, the English Premier League team that was recently bought over by the Venky’s group, was a huge head turner at the event.

Venky’s was represented at VIV Asia 2011, Bangkok by its professionals from India, Singapore,Bangladesh and Vietnam , headed by Mr.Praneeth Rao. VIV Asia 2011, Bangkok with 628 stalls from various countries across theworld was a huge success and also marked Venky’s presence on the global poultry map.

Venky’s set to mark their presence in Vietnam poultry segment

The Indian (Pune) based Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group – one of the leading USD 1 billion poultry conglomerate after transforming the Indian Poultry Industry on scientific lines has forayed into the South East Asian Poultry segment with launch of Venky’s (Vietnam) Co. Ltd. at Tay Ninh Province of South Vietnam. It has got the accreditation of being the first Indian Company to achieve this fete.

A spectacular event was held on 06/03/11 at Bourbon An Hoa Industrial Park, Trang Bang District, Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam to formally launch its poultry feed mill having state-of-the-art Swiss technology. This feed plant is having production capacity of 4500 MT feed per month and has been erected with special emphasis on producing sterilized feed containing pure vegetarian components, formulated by the eminent poultry scientists and nutritionists.

This noble venture of company will be providing employment to the local population and simultaneously contribute its share to the vibrant Vietnamese economy.

Mr. B. Venkatesh Rao, Managing Director of Uttara Foods & Feeds Pvt. Ltd. and Joint-Managing Director of Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd. said “We firmly believe in and adhere to our quality statement “Quality through Technology” and assure all poultry farmers and associated industries of Vietnam for provision of best quality feed and hassle free poultry services”. The feed produced at the unit will be a boon to the local poultry farmers in terms of completely balanced, cost effective and qualitative feed, best suited for high yield.

Mr. B. Venkatesh Rao also said that, “we are committed to provide comprehensive assistance to the Vietnamese poultry farmers in terms of free poultry diagnostic and technical services”. In order to fructify this commitment, an advanced poultry diagnostic and research laboratory has been set up in collaboration with Nong Lam University and setting up of second laboratory in South Vietnam is on top priority of the group’s future plans.

Eminent personalities of both India and Vietnam attended the event. This gala event was attended by many poultry farmers from different provinces of South Vietnam, Agri-commodity suppliers, poultry feed dealers, Board of Governors and members from Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam and other investors and bankers. An informative technical session by the experts in the field was being organized for the attending farmers. To commemorate this occasion, lunch and an entertaining event reflecting the Indian and Vietnamese culture was also organized for the invitees.

The venture is in collaboration with Nong Lam University (the research institute for biotechnology and environment). Dr. Le Dinh Don, Director of the university lauded the collaboration of the institute with Venky’s, calling this a big day for both the University as well as Venky’s. Also in attendance were eager students and many large scale poultry farmers from Vietnam.

The students of the University stand to gain through practical knowledge and assistance at the laboratory which boasts of state-of-the-art equipment imported from global makers. The poultry farmers can avail of a vast range of services, right from disease surveillance and monitoring, water and feed analysis, to diagnostics & collaborative research projects. These services will be available to them round-the-clock, throughout the year. Dr. Shiv Shankar Karnam will be in charge of the lab along with two local assistants.

This venture bodes immensely well for the poultry Industry of the country.

Related links:

http://tuoitre.vn/Kinh-te/419403/Mien-phi-phan-tich-dich-benh-gia-cam-cho-nong-dan.html

http://nld.com.vn/2011010801186994P0C1016/xet-nghiem-mien-phi-dich-benh-gia-suc.htm
http://sgtt.vn/Khoa-giao/135721/Xe%CC%81t-nghie%CC%A3m-mie%CC%83n-phi%CC%81-di%CC%A3ch-be%CC%A3nh-cha%CC%81t-luo%CC%A3ng-thu%CC%81c-an.html

The Pune head-quartered company had reported a net profit of Rs 13.20 crore for the quarter ended on December 31, 2009, Venky’s India said in a statement.

During the quarter (October-December period) under consideration, the company’s total income rose by 19.8 per cent to Rs 210.13 crore as against Rs 175.31 crore in the comparable period, an year ago.

Financial Results 31-December-2010

Paul Egerton – Vernon, Chairman of the Jack Walker Settlement Trustees said:

“We are very pleased to be passing on the Rovers to the Rao family. We have been impressed with their enthusiasm for the Club and their plans and ideas for future investment to develop it further as well as their wish and commitment to preserve the legacy of Jack Walker. We are particularly pleased that the Club will continue in family ownership and that the existing management team at the Rovers led by John Williams will continue unchanged. We would like to express our gratitude and admiration for the great job John and his team have done for the Club whilst it has been part of the Trust.

“Over the last 10 years, the global appeal of the Premier League has grown significantly and it is only natural that, as we have seen at other Clubs, international ownership and investment should increase.”

Anuradha J Desai, the Chairperson of Venky’s, said:

“We are delighted, proud and humbled to be associated with Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions. Going forward we plan to focus on leveraging the global influence in establishing Blackburn Rovers as a truly global brand. We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will be actively supporting the organisation to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best run Clubs within the Premier League. We are particularly pleased that the deal has the full support of the Walker Trust, the Chairman and the management team who will of course remain in place with our full support.

“Blackburn Rovers is an historic institution that has won the Premier League and we want the fans to embrace us so that we are able to do our best in the interests of the Club.”

Mr. Venkateshwara Rao, Joint Managing Director of Venky’s said:

“We are all truly honoured to be working with such an historic club and are committed to creating a long-term financial platform which the Club can use to realise its obvious potential on and off of the field. It is as a team that this Club has succeeded in the past and it is as a team that this Club will achieve great things in the future.”

The Whole Time Director of Venky’s, Balaji Rao also added:

“We see real sustainable growth for the Club moving forward, both within the UK and also internationally and we intend to exploit our in-depth knowledge of the Indian market in particular, and beyond that, the whole of Asia. Blackburn Rovers fans will be delighted to add to the family a huge Indian and Asian fan base. The immediate future will be spent with the key figures at the Club from the Chairman and the management team right through to the players and Club staff working with them to ensure that we move forward as a team.”

John Williams, Chairman of BRF&A said:

“The successful conclusion of the deal is clearly a significant event in the history of the Club. It represents the end of the remarkable Walker era, which saw Rovers projected to the top of the football pyramid. In the 10 years since Jack’s death the Board and Trustees together have managed to build on Jack’s legacy and preside over the Club’s longest term in the top flight since 1936.

“The Rao Family pursued the opportunity with determination and enthusiasm. The Board will remain focused on what it does, providing important stability, a platform from which the new owners will be able to launch new ideas, particularly in markets outside the UK.”

BRFC Investments Limited was advised by Rothschild and Addleshaw Goddard LLP. Venky’s London Limited was advised by Hammonds LLP.