Carlyle PE-backed wellness brand VLCC is set to expand its company-owned retail clinics from 90, which it operated two years ago, to 175 by the end of April 2025 across tier-1 and metro cities. This expansion comes as its retail business experiences double-digit top-line growth.
“We operated 90 stores two years ago and have been steadily expanding our presence in India. Our current footprint stands at 170, and our goal is to continue this expansion and increase the number to 175 stores by end of April 2025,” said Vikas Gupta, MD & Group CEO, VLCC.
The expansion has been funded through internal accruals, according to Gupta. However, he noted that future funding decisions will depend on the scale and urgency of VLCC’s ambitions.“ We are open to evaluating external capital if needed. Carlyle has been a great partner in this journey, and we now have another investor on board, the Alpha Wave team. Together, we will assess whether to raise external funding or continue leveraging internal accruals,” he added.
VLCC currently operates 300 outlets, including franchisee-run locations. Internationally, VLCC has a presence in the Middle East, including the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, which Gupta refers to as the brand’s key markets. The company also operates in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kenya.
Gupta emphasised that VLCC’s primary expansion focus remains on India. “We believe that the opportunity is playing out in India in the best possible manner. While we are also expanding in the Middle East, the pace of that expansion is slower than what we’re doing in India,” he noted.
While elaborating on future acquisition plans with businessline, the company which acquired acquisition of the men’s grooming brand Ustraa in 2023, VLCC is actively exploring similar acquisitions to strengthen its presence in digital-first wellness and grooming brands.
Founded in 1989 by Vandana and Mukesh Luthra, VLCC operates in the skincare, beauty and wellness segments, offering both services—such as weight management—and products. In 2023, the company was acquired by Carlyle.