Australia’s Blackmores announces Distribution Partnership

by Suman Gupta

Range of multivitamins products to be available on the udaan platform

• Blackmores to leverage udaan’s strong reach and e-commerce expertise for product distribution

Sydney / Bengaluru, January 21, 2022: Australia based and internationally loved natural health and dietary supplements company, Blackmores, today announced a distribution partnership for its range of multivitamins products in India. As part of this partnership, Blackmores range of premium multivitamins products will be available to independent pharmacies in India through udaan, India’s largest business-to-business (b2b) eCommerce platform.

India is a focus growth market for Blackmores which already operates in 12 other markets across Asia-Pacific, and has an ambition to connect 1 billion consumers to the healing power of nature by 2025.

The initial launch products for Indian consumers include Blackmores Shine Power™ D3 for healthy bone & immunity, Blackmores Glucosogreen 1500 for joint health, Blackmores Blue Light Defence for eye health, Blackmores Bio Calcium for bone health, and Blackmores CoQ10 150mg for heart health. Additional tailored and innovative products will be rolled out over the coming months.

The pharma category on the udaan platform will provide independent pharmacies the access to Blackmores’s products through its extensive distribution footprint connecting 25+ cities. Additionally, the sales team will be trained by Blackmores Institute to increase awareness of the products with pharmacies and medical stores.

Blackmores Institute, the academic and professional arm of Blackmores Limited, was established in 2012, with a focus on research and education –  the team includes researchers, academics, healthcare professionals, and educators who translate the evidence-base into practical healthcare education and resources.

Blackmores Group Chief Executive Officer Alastair Symington said, “Blackmores is passionate about connecting people to the healing power of nature. We choose the most nutrient-rich ingredients to ensure our products are high quality, efficacious and adhere to some of the most rigorous safety standards in the world. The launch on udaan platform will provide the opportunity to reach out to neighbourhood pharmacies in top cities of India. We know that Indians are passionate about natural health too, and we are excited to be a part of their journey to lead healthier and happier lives,”

The pharma category on the udaan platform lists Medicines, Medical Supplies, and Over the counter (OTC) Products. Currently it has over 70,000 retailers registered on its platform with active monthly transacting base of over 30,000 retailers.

Vivek Gupta, Head – Food & FMCG and Pharma Category, udaan, said, “We are delighted to introduce and make available Blackmores range of premium multivitamins products on the platform. This arrangement underlines the platforms’ ability to forge strong partnerships with leading brands and be a partner-of-choice for major pharma companies given our deep reach across India and our understanding of the e-commerce market. Our scale, efficiency, and strong relationships with pharmacies across the country provides us with a unique advantage to address the distribution needs of manufacturers.”

The udaan platform currently has over 3 million retailers, chemists, kirana shops, HoReCa, farmers, etc. doing over 5 million transactions per month, making udaan a leader in the b2b eCommerce business. Overall, udaan enables delivery of over 1.5 – 1.7 lakh orders daily, spread over all business verticals nationally.

“It’s a pleasure to see Blackmores, one of Australia’s leading and trusted natural vitamins, dietary and supplements brand now also available across offline channels in India. Blackmores with its legacy of almost 90 years in natural healing, is a great example of Australia’s clean, green and safe manufacturing story. Indians are passionate about natural and holistic health, and we hope that iconic Australian brands such as Blackmores are part of their journey to lead healthier and happier lives”, said Sam Freeman, Trade Commissioner from the Australian Trade & Investment Commission from the Australian High Commission.

udaan connects millions of MSMEs throughout India and helps them grow their business through the adoption of technology. It has built inclusive tech tools for Bharat, specially catering to the needs of brands, retailers & manufacturers providing them a level playing field to conduct and grow their business.

Blackmores is the leading natural health brand in not just Australia, but also in several other Asian markets. Its innovative and efficacious range includes halal and vegetarian formulations, as well as products targeted to age, gender, and specific health functions to give people everywhere the choice to make living well each day a natural way of life.

Blackmores products can be purchased from leading independent retailers in top cities of India.