FMCG veteran, C.K. Ranganathan, has forayed into the animal wellness industry by launching a new personal venture called Sanchu Animal Hospital entailing investments to the tune of ₹3 crore. He intends to open a nation-wide chain of 100 hospitals by 2024.
The hi-tech multi-speciality hospital at Adyar in Chennai, will offer services including dermatology, dentistry, surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, as well as emergency and critical care services, available round the clock, throughout the year. In addition, the hospital offers services like pet spa and salon, pet cab service, online access for pet records and pet super-market.
“Sanchu Animal hospital will function like a human hospital. No cages for animals. Today, pets are becoming part of our family and we need to give them the love and care that we would give our family member,”said, Mr. Ranganathan, CMD, CavinKare.
“Our team has gathered a substantial amount of knowledge in pet care by maintaining and treating more than 2,000 birds, two dozen canines, ponies, ostriches and around 150 cows at two of my homesteads in Chennai and Cuddalore for the past few years,” he said adding that a lot of research has been done using artificial intelligence.
Plans are on cards to enter the Bengaluru market soon. According to Mr. Ranganathan, wherever there is software business, there are pets too. “We are also looking at the pet food business,” he said. To a query on whether h is looking at franchisee route for its expansion into other cities, he replied, “We are not ruling out that possibility. But our immediate focus is to make the model work perfect.”
Before signing off, Mr Ranganathan clarified that this venture is not a part of CavinKare. “Eighteen years ago when we started salon business. no one imagined that a chain of salons would be a possibility. Today, chains have become popular. Similarly, this will also become a chain of hospitals,” he said.
