Lampe Berger eyes Rs 60-cr sales in India this year

Company notched up revenues of Rs 48cr in first year of operations

Paris-based Lampe Berger, a world leader in aromatherapy and manufacturing unique air purifiers since 1897, is targeting a turnover of Rs 60 crore from its Indian operations this year.

The company, which entered India a year ago, has notched up revenues of about Rs 48 crore in its first year of operations.

The managing director of Lampe Berger India, K Haribabu, told Business Standard that the company was expanding its presence in the country.

"We have opened new branches in Vijayawada, Bangalore and Mumbai, and would appoint as many franchisees as possible. With headquarters in Hyderabad, the company had so far operated branches in New Delhi, Chennai, Tirupur, Ahmedabad and Visakhapatnam," he said.

He said that part of the success of the company lay in its environment friendly products. "The formulation is user safety as the ingredients, obtained from natural sources, are non-toxic. Ninety per cent formula is ozoacool and isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which is extracted from white beetroot grown in France. The remaining 10 per cent is made up of water and essential oils extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants. The catalytic burner with diffuser, the vital part of the formulation, after being heated, will steadily release purifying properties of anions and healing aromas."

The Lampe Berger product, which alone fetches Rs 800 crore from all over the world, is manufactured and packed in France and exported to 68 countries. The burner, available in different models, is filled with oil from among 29 fragrances available.

Haribabu said, "The formulation purifies air, replenishes oxygen, and releases natural ozoniser (disinfectant) that destroys second hand smoke and toxic gases, extends aromatherapy with plant essential oils and deodouriser (air freshener). The combination improves environmental hygiene, increases physical strength, improves metabolism, and maintains pH balance," he said.

Of the 29 botanical scents (essential oils) 13 are made available to consumers in India at present. These scents, according to the company official, have therapeutic value.

The consumer will be relieved of anemia, fatigue, migraine, sleepiness or tears caused by anemia, dizziness, nausea, headaches, blood pressure problems, poor metabolism, respiratory problems and acidity. Their external application prevents mosquito bites in outdoors. Use of oils in bath will relieve user of stress. When used in floor mopping, the oils stop ant propagation.

He said, "The oils are extracted from aromatic plants such as eucalyptus, bergamot, sandalwood, cinnamon, cedar of Lebanon, hanisakal, cipres, citronella, forest of greenwood, mint leaf, green tea, chypre, ambre, thyme, honeysuckle, rose, laurel, patchouli, summer fruit, fir, nutmeg, lavender, lotus, ginseng, red berries, neutral, ocean, green apple, dew of iris, venella and Bulgarian rose."

He said the company was concentrating on hospitals, temples, boutiques, pharmacies, furniture stores, air-conditioned offices, restaurants, tea houses, beauty salons and adult care centres among others for marketing Lampe Berger.