Celebrity guru Baba Ramdev announces partnership with Amazon but insists he has ‘no dreams of personal wealth and prosperity’
Ramdev claims to live a simple life despite his riches and says all his profits go to charity – he has also denied past allegations of tax evasion
Baba Ramdev, the popular yoga guru-turned-entrepreneur behind one of India’s biggest brands, said Tuesday he was tying up with Amazon to target the country’s US$1 billion online market for consumer goods.
Ramdev built up a huge following through his yoga TV show before launching the Patanjali brand of products, which range from toothpaste to cooking oil and cosmetics.
Patanjali now rivals major international brands in India thanks to its low prices and home-grown credentials, but currently sells mainly through bricks-and-mortar shops.
Now it is tying up with a range of online retailers including Flipkart, Paytm and BigBasket as well as Amazon after a successful trial.
“The online mechanism is especially aimed at youngsters who want speed and comfort when it comes to shopping,” the yoga tycoon told journalists in Delhi.
The company has ambitious plans to double its turnover in the current financial year to US$3 billion.