50 YEARS OF SPREADING Happiness

With the business conglomerate Emami marking its golden jubilee in 2024, MARWAR India explores its successful journey that started back in 1974 in the humble lanes of Burra Bazaar in Kolkata. The only business group in India run by two partner families unrelated by blood, the brand is rooted yet global in its appeal. Over to Aditya Agarwal and Manish Goenka, Promoter-Directors, Emami Group, on celebrating five decades in the industry.

- Rachna Virdi

Celebration is in the air in the corporate office of FMCG giant and one of India's leading diversified business houses Emami Group that proudly marks its golden milestone in 2024. The home-grown legacy brand has successfully completed 50 years in the industry, with global dominance across 70 countries and a market capital of INR 34,000 crore.

As second-generation entrepreneurs, PromoterDirectors and key members of the strategic think-tank committee, Aditya Agarwal and Manish Goenka are not just proud of their family-run legacy business, but also revel in their own profound sense of commitment, excellence and innovation. With an indomitable drive and a keen sense of observation, the duo took over in 1994 and led to the company's growth to being one of the leading FMCG companies in India. They currently head the group's edible oil and biodiesel business, which is India's second largest edible oil producer, manufacturing wellknown edible oil brands such as Healthy & Tasty and Best Choice.

The beginning of a journey

Circa 1974. Emami was established by childhood friends RS Agarwal and RS Goenka, and fathers of Aditya Agarwal and Manish Goenka, with the idea of launching a business that was indigenous to our country. Having left their high-profile jobs with the Birla Group, they set up Kemco Chemicals, an ayurvedic medicine and cosmetic manufacturing unit in 1974 with a meagre capital of 20,000.

RS Agarwal, Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, LLB with a Master's degree in Commerce, and RS Goenka, M.Com and LLB, with expertise in taxation, and finance, were powered by their keen sense of consumer insight and business vision. Realising the importance of herbal revolution of Ayurveda, they started manufacturing cosmetic products and ayurvedic medicines under the brand name of Emami from a small office in the humble lanes of Burra Bazaar in Kolkata.