The V H Group is an Indian conglomerate primarily comprising companies related to the poultry industry, including processed food, animal vaccines, human and animal pharmaceutical and healthcare products.[1]
| Company type | Private Limited |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
It was founded as Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt Ltd in 1971 in Hyderabad, India and later shifted its base to Pune, India to seek favourable climatic conditions required for research of livestock. It has also built Balaji temple at Pune which is a replica of famous Balaji temple of Tirupati. It is also the owner of English football club Blackburn Rovers, overseeing two relegations and one promotion with the club.
Group profile
editThe V H Group is controlled by the family of Dr. B. V. Rao. His daughter, Anuradha Desai, is serving as group chairperson since his death in 1996.[2] His sons B Balaji Rao and Venkatesh Rao sit on the board of the group's companies.[3][4][5]
The V H Group has its headquarters in Pune, and has offices in the United Kingdom, Oman, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Italy. The group has production plants in India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the United States and Switzerland.[6]
In December 2010, the group launched Venky's Xprs, a fast food restaurant specialising in chicken. The first outlet opened in Pune, India.[7]
Sport
editBlackburn Rovers
editIn November 2010, the group took over English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers F.C., acquiring a 99.9% stake through a new holding company, Venky's London Ltd. The deal was worth £43 million including taking on around £20 million of the club's debt.[8]
After sacking Sam Allardyce as the club's manager,[9] Steve Kean was appointed in his place, raising media concern as Kean's agent Jerome Anderson had advised Venky's during its takeover of the club.[10][11][12] Venky's oversaw an unsuccessful period resulting in relegation to the Championship after the 2011–12 Premier League season ending the club's 11-year run in the top flight, then a further relegation to the third-tier EFL League One after the 2016–17 season.[13][14][15] Despite Kean leaving Blackburn Rovers in September 2012, criticism of Venky's running of the club has continued, with both fans and the media calling them into question.[16] In September 2016, Venky's publicly stated their commitment to the club.[17]
Businesses
editThe group includes:
- Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd.
- Venky's (India) Limited
- VENCO Research and Breeding Farms Pvt. Ltd.
- Venkateshwara Research and Breeding Farms Pvt. Ltd.
- Venkateshwara B.V.Bio-Corp Pvt. Ltd.
- Uttara Foods & Feeds Pvt. Ltd.
- Uttara Impex Pvt. Ltd.
- Venky's Vietnam Ltd.
- Venky's Singapore Pvt. Ltd.
- VH Group Bangladesh
- Bala Industries & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
References
edit- ^ "Venkys (India) Ltd". NDTV Profit. NDTV Convergence Limited. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ Bhattacharyya, Alokesh (27 September 2015). "Hatching a business". Business Today. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Venky's (India) Ltd (VENK.BO)". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Athavale, Dileep (24 February 2006). "Anuradha Desai, chairperson, Venkateshwara Hatcheries". Business Standard. Business Standard Private Limited. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "I-T sleuths search 40 premises of Venky's". Pune Mirror. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "Asia's poultry group to set up vaccines plant in Jura". Bilan. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Palit, Debarati (9 December 2010). "In the city to add some spice". Mid-Day. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ "Rao family buy Blackburn Rovers from Jack Walker Trust". BBC Sport. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ^ Burnton, Simon (13 December 2010). "Sam Allardyce sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ^ Conn, David. "How an agent came to hold so much power at Blackburn Rovers", The Guardian, 21 December 2010. Retrieved 02 August 2016.
- ^ Hytner, David. "Steve Kean finds value of friends in high places at Blackburn Rovers", The Guardian, 16 December 2010. Retrieved 02 August 2016.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers board's dismay at Venky's conduct revealed in letter". The Guardian. 15 January 2012.
- ^ Winter, Henry (8 May 2012). "Blackburn Rovers relegated from Premier League as Antolin Alcaraz scores only goal in Wigan's great escape". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ^ "So why do the Blackburn owners Venkys not seem to care?". The Independent. 9 May 2012.
- ^ "How Venky's wrecked and relegated Blackburn". Daily Mirror. 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Venky's and other corporate vandals must be stopped from owning clubs". The Times. 3 September 2016.
- ^ Wheelock, Paul (29 September 2016). "'We remain totally committed to the club' - Blackburn Rovers owners Venky's release statement at fans' meeting". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest (North West) Ltd. Retrieved 21 July 2017.