A.V. Anoop: Blazing the Fragrant Trail of Success

As rays of the setting sun create a visual symphony of sorts in the living room of his ninth-floor apartment overlooking the placid Periyar in Aluva, entrepreneur par excellence Dr A.V. Anoop, the chairman and managing director of the AVA Group of Companies, has the look of contentment on his visage.

- Ranjit L. Morris

The owner of a business empire that spans personal care products, condiments and wellness exudes an air of confidence as he settles down for a tete-a-tete with Unique Times.

Popularly known as the owner of the hugely popular Medimix herbal soap, which is a household name among Malayalis both within Kerala and elsewhere, Anoop’s AVA Group is sailing steadily with the wind in the sails, spreading the whiff of success. Having the hard-earned Midas touch, he has almost taken over the illustrious century-old Nilgiris brand and it is now the talk of the town. 

Expansion Mode 

Without an iota of doubt, one can see this Rs 67-crore acquisition of the iconic Nilgiris supermarket chain is the latest jewel in his crown of achievements. When asked as to what prompted him to eye Nilgiris, Anoop says,

“Retail is the whole thrust of our business and therefore its extension is the prime factor that propelled me to go for this takeover.” “Personal care products are our forte and they include products that are meant for internal and external use. I am more inclined towards the Nilgiris brand of products. They have their own exclusive products, including both bakery and dairy, which are popular."

Farsighted to the core, thanks to four decades of experience and the valuable lessons taught by his mentor and uncle Dr Sidhan, Anoop is optimistic that the factories of Melam condiments that he acquired can be used for the benefit of the Nilgiris brand and he is striving to bring them to the e-commerce platform to give them a wider reach. “I am confident that I can make its brand value Rs 300 crore with my endeavour,” he says.