Growing population, widespread pollution, the changing face of diseases and emergence of lifestyle disorders means that the healthcare industry needs to be in an over-drive. The increasing costs of treatment coupled with rising awareness on maintaining health, has resulted in a shift in the industry from a focus on cure to more emphasis on prevention.
This thought led to us a visionary company that aims to become the most preferred provider of nutritional ingredients. We would like to present Fermenta Biotech Limited (FBL), one of the largest manufacturers of Vitamin D3 in India and a global player in the industry.
Established in 1951, FBL is headquartered at Thane, Maharashtra where its state-of-the-art R&D center is also located, and with world class facilities based out of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh as well as Dahej, Gujarat.
FBL leads the industry with the mantra, ‘frontline obsession’. As such, its commitment towards the clients is underlined by its endeavors for excellence in delivery and customer-driven innovation.
Experienced Vision behind Fermenta
An industry veteran, Prashant Nagre helms the CEO duties at Fermenta Biotech. Mr. Nagre holds a degree in Pharmacy with a Master’s degree in Management Science and is a Gold Medalist Post Graduate Diploma of International Trade from the prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi.
With a career spanning across 27 years, Mr. Nagre has extensive experience in a variety of fields including Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Human, and Animal Nutrition.
Mr. Nagre has been associated with FBL for almost a decade, leading the strategy and day-to-day operations of all three business verticals viz. Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Solutions. He also focuses on building and developing the various strengths of Fermenta, i.e. Manufacturing, R&D, and Allied Activities.
Esteemed Services
As mentioned previously, FBL is one the world’s leading producers and providers of Vitamin D3. It produces a range of varieties including crystalline, wax, resin in liquid, cold water dispersible (CWD), and feed grade powder, which can be used as injectables, soft gel capsules, premixes, as well as food, and beverage fortification applications.
The historical legacy of FBL can be described as:
Pioneering: Its use of proprietary technology to manufacture Vitamin D3 in India.
Experienced: Manufacturer of Vitamin D for over 50 years
Global: One of the world’s leading Vitamin D3 producers with a base of more than 300 customers across 50 countries.
Natural: The cholesterol consumed by Fermenta is obtained from sheep wool derived from TSE/BSE risk-free countries.
Narrow but deep: Manufacturing Vitamin D3 for various applications across human and animal nutrition (pharmaceuticals, food, dietary and nutritional supplements, veterinary and feed) as well as rodenticides.
In addition to Vitamin D3, FBL also offers niche APIs and integrated biotechnology platforms such as antibiotic synthesis enzymes as well as environmental solutions for wastewater management and treatment.
A Strong Grip on Technology
Being in line with the industry, FBL has implemented digitalization measures to improve the business process efficiency.
Digitization initiatives for operations: SAP-enabled ERP, encompassing various modules viz., financial accounting & controlling, sales & distribution, operations, material management, and quality, and implemented in record time with zero down-time.
SAP Success Factors: A global benchmark in goal setting and performance management, thus aligning an individual employee’s goals to the organizational objective.
Digitization of business development efforts: Invested in SalesForce, a CRM module used across the globe in order to enhance service provided to customers and improve sales operations.
UL ComplianceWire®: Best-in-class training solution to help improve productivity and reduce risk through web-based learning and knowledge management system
Besides technological advancements, FBL has many factors that drive its success including Internal Capabilities, Global Accreditation, and International Collaborations.
Prestigious Hall of Fame
With so much contribution to the pharma industry, the firm was indeed destined to bag numerous awards. Some of these awards are:
- Chief Strategy Officer Awards in the categories Turnaround Strategy 2020 and Strategy Leader of the Year
- Best Business Brand category of the Business Leader of the Year, at the World HRD Congress 2020
- India Pharma Awards 2018: Winner in three categories at the India Pharma Awards 2018; Excellence in CSR for companies with turnover less than INR 500 Cr.; Pharma International Excellence; and Excellence in Export Promotion.
- Hindustan Times Thane Ratna Award 2020 for the category Nutrition Focused Company
- World HRD Congress 2018: Three awards under National Best Employer Brands 2018, Business Leader of the Year, and Top 101 HR Minds in India
- Pride of Maharashtra Award 2018 to the CEO, Mr. Prashant Nagre
- Business Excellence Awards 2019 for Export Oriented Pharma Company
- Abbott Strategic Business Partner award 2018
- Great Place to Work® certification for April 2019 to March 2020
Future Developments
FBL marches into the future with an ambition to be a nutrition-focused company. It aims to achieve the same via:
Focus on nutraceuticals: Utilizing its wide distribution network, the firm aims to provide nutraceutical ingredients as a holistic solution to today’s healthcare problems.
Capacity Expansion: With a multi-synthesis plant in Dahej, Gujarat and construction on newly acquired 40,000 sq.m land at Saykha, Gujarat.
International Subsidiary: Inauguration of a wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany. It will also manufacture value-added products in Europe through contract manufacturing partners.
Amalgamation: A recent merger with DIL Ltd. has been completed, which is expected to combine resources, provide ease in operation, focus on priorities, and maximize stakeholder’s benefits.
Visit www.fermentabiotech.com to know more about the company and its businesses.
