Amway launches product for obesity

There's good news for heart patients in Punjab, a state where the number of heart attacks is the maximum in the country.

Amway India, the country's largest direct-selling FMCG company, launched for the Punjab market a weight management product called "Positrim" in Ludhiana last week. Srinivas Rao, associate vice-president of Amway, along with other officials, unveiled this product.

Addressing a press conference, Rao said: "Our statistics indicate that there are 40-50 million overweight Indians. In the upper middle class category, one-third of the male population and more than half the female population are overweight. This weight management programme, called "Positrim", can be effective in dealing with weight problems, an issue afflicting a growing number of people. Positrim is a nutritionally balanced meal replacement low-fat drink mix. Each 53-gm sachet offers almost one-third of essential vitamins and minerals required daily. Positrim has a safe and sensible balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and is available in chocolate flavour."

Rao said Amway had an office in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Bathinda, and Amritsar.

"In Punjab, Amway's business has shown a high potential of growth and is among the top five emerging markets in India, generating employment opportunities. Businesswise also, Punjab comes fourth, after Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Punjab, including Chandigarh, generates a business of around Rs 50 crore per annum, while Ludhiana alone contributes Rs 1.7 crore per month."

Rao said the company would come up with a slew of launches, lined up over the next few months, which would further consolidate Amway's position as a leading "Health and Beauty Company".

"The emphasis of new product launches will be in nutrition and wellness followed by cosmetics, personal care and home care. 'Nutrilite' has emerged as the largest- and fastest-growing category for Amway India. In Punjab also, sales of Nutrilite have substantially increased, which clearly reflects the health and quality consciousness of consumers and people of Punjab."

According to a survey conducted by the Indian Direct Selling Association in 2005, the direct selling industry is Rs 2,700 crore, up from Rs 2,300 crore of the previous years.

Most of the sales persons are women, who supplement their income from direct selling. The survey says the direct selling industry is expected to register an average growth rate of 25 per cent over the next three years.