Dharampal Satyapal Group
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Short description|Indian conglomerate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}{{Peacock|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Dharampal Satyapal Group
| logo = DS Group logo.png
| type = Private Amit
| industry = Conglomerate company
| founders = {{ubl|Dharampal Sugandhi|Satyapal Sugandhi}}
| hq_location = Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| hq_location_country = India
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Ravinder Kumar (Chairman)
Rajiv Kumar (Vice-chairman)
| products = Food and beverages, tobacco, and hotels
| brands = Catch, Pass Pass, Pulse, Rajnigandha Pearls, Rajnigandha, Ksheer, Chingles, FRU, Pulse Natkaare, Kewal, BABA, Tulsi, The Manu Maharani, Namah, Birthright, Uncafe, Le Marche, L’ Opera, Snack Factory, Nature’s Miracle and Not Just Nuts (NJN), Lalique Group
| revenue = {{INRconvert|5500|c}} (2023){{cite news |title=Milk, Pan Masala & Catch-22: DS Group & Its Sugar-coated FMCG Gambit |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/milk-pan-masala-catch22-ds-group-its-sugarcoated-fmcg-gambit/85559/1 |access-date=30 July 2023 |work=Forbes India |language=en}}
| subsid = {{Collapsible list
| expand =
| framestyle =
| titlestyle =
| title =
| liststyle =
| hlist =
| bullets =
| 1 = Dharampal Satyapal Limited
| 2 = Dharampal Premchand Limited
| 3 = Dharampal Satyapal Sons Private Limited
| 4 = DS Foods Ltd
| 5=DS Spiceco Private Limited
|6=DS Chewing Products LLP
|7=DS (Assam) Hospitality Limited
|8=Kolkatta Hotels Limited
|9=Manu Maharani Hotels Limited
|10=DS Namah Hospitality Private Limited
|11=DS Jaipur Hospitality Private Limited
|12=DS Green Agrotech Private Limited
|13=DS Global PTE Ltd
|14=Nature’s Miracle LLP
|15=DS Drinks & Beverages Private Limited
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.dsgroup.com}}
}}
The DS Group (Dharampal Satyapal Group) is an Indian multinational and an FMCG conglomerate.{{cite news |title=DS Group partners with Swiss luxury chocolate brand Läderach |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/mktg/ds-group-partners-with-swiss-luxury-chocolate-brand-lderach |work=Afaqs}}{{cite news |last1=Roy |first1=Sidhartha |title='Catch'-ing the right solutions |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/catch-ing-the-right-solutions/story-aErTKuowTxYk1hwUceciJM.html |work=HindustanTimes |date=30 August 2009}} Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Noida, India, the group operates in various industries, including mouth fresheners, food and beverages, confectioneries, agriculture, and luxury retail.{{cite news |last1=|first1=|title=DS Group eyes 20-24% revenue growth this fiscal |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ds-group-eyes-20-24-revenue-growth-this-fiscal-116120400166_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=4 December 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Matharu |first1=Sonal |title=Inside story of how billionaires of big-brand pan masala industry got around an ad ban |url=https://theprint.in/features/inside-story-of-how-billionaires-of-big-brand-pan-masala-industry-got-around-an-ad-ban/869807/ |work=ThePrint |date=12 March 2022}}{{cite news |title=DS Group to expand cold chain channel |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/business/ds-group-to-expand-cold-chain-channel-148035 |work=The Tribune |date=19 October 2015}}
Leadership
The group is owned and managed by Ravinder Kumar and Rajiv Kumar, third-generation entrepreneurs from the founding family.{{cite news |date=8 November 2014 |title=The Pashas Of Luxury |work=BusinessWorld |url=https://www.businessworld.in/article/The-Pashas-Of-Luxury-/08-11-2014-60286/}}{{cite news |last1=THOMAS |first1=PRINCE MATHEWS |date=29 April 2014 |title=Can DS Group Diversify Beyond Tobacco Like ITC Did? |language=en |work=Forbes India |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/boardroom/can-ds-group-diversify-beyond-tobacco-like-itc-did/37660/1}}{{cite news |title=Candy Rush: How Pulse Got It Right |language=en |work=Forbes India |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/real-issue/candy-rush-how-pulse-got-it-right/44039/1}}
History
Shri Dharampal Sugandhi founded the DS Group in 1929 in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Starting as a perfumery business, it produced items such as incense sticks, rose water, and tobacco.https://www.dsgroup.com/about-us/history-of-ds-group In 1958, Shri Satyapal Sugandhi{{Cite web | title=Our Founders - About Us |url=https://www.dsgroup.com/about-us/our-founders |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241105083050/https://www.dsgroup.com/about-us/our-founders |archive-date=2024-11-05 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Dharampal Satyapal Group |language=en}} launched the BABA tobacco brand, marking the company's expansion.[https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/ds-group-to-focus-on-premium-products/ Financial Express - DS Group to focus on premium products]
The group diversified into food and beverages with brands like 'Catch Salt & Pepper' (1987) and 'Catch Natural Spring Water' (1999).[https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/catch-spring-water-a-trusted-name-in-himalayan-water-121032800504_1.html Business Standard - Catch Spring Water: A trusted name in Himalayan water] Confectionery brands such as Rajnigandha, Pass Pass, and Pulse Candy are also part of the DS Group.[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/pulse-candy-revenue-crosses-rs-300-crore-mark-in-2-years/articleshow/62918492.cms Economic Times - Pulse candy revenue crosses Rs 300 crore mark in 2 years]
In 2019, the group entered the luxury sector by acquiring a stake in the Lalique Group. In 2023, it introduced the Swiss chocolate brand Läderach to India and also acquired LuvIt chocolates.[https://www.lalique-group.com/en/media/press-releases DS Group acquires stake in Lalique Group][https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/story/ds-group-brings-laderach-chocolates-to-india-378249-2023-01-15 Business Today - DS Group brings Läderach chocolates to India] The DS Group has a presence across diverse sectors, including food, beverages, agriculture, and luxury.[https://www.dsgroup.com/expansion-initiatives/ DS Group - Expansion Initiatives]
Presence
The DS Group is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Located in the National Capital Region (NCR), the DS Group Headquarters (DSHQ) houses the company's main office, a research and development center, and manufacturing facilities for producing candies, flavors, fragrances, and edible gold and silver decorations.{{Cite news |title=Dharampal Satyapal group's headquarters gets LEED award for green building |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/dharampal-satyapal-group-s-headquarters-get-leed-award-for-green-building-1930461-2022-03-28 |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=India Today |date=28 March 2022 |language=en}}
In 2022, the group's headquarters was awarded LEED Zero Carbon Certification Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).{{cite news |date=12 April 2022 |title=FMCG firm DS Group awarded with LEED certification for green building |language=en |work=cnbctv18.com |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/retail/fmcg-firm-ds-group-awarded-with-leed-certification-for-green-building-13128622.htm}}{{cite news |date=25 March 2022 |title=Green initiatives: FMCG firm DS Group awarded with LEED certification for sustainable biz practices |language=en |work=TimesNow |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/green-initiatives-fmcg-firm-ds-group-awarded-with-leed-certification-for-sustainable-biz-practices-article-90444869}} In the following year, the company attained net zero carbon status, as recognized by the USGBC.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Corporate museum
The DS Group headquarters houses a museum called "The Journey", which showcases the company's legacy and pays tribute to its founders. Divided into five sections, the museum offers an experiential, interactive exhibition.{{cite news |title='The Journey' corporate museum in Noida brings 88 year old legacy to life |language=en |work=NYOOOZ |url=https://www.nyoooz.com/news/noida/895080/the-journey-corporate-museum-in-noida-brings-88-year-old-legacy-to-life/}}{{cite news |last1=Surana |first1=Shashank |date=2 September 2016 |title=Corporate museums showcase history of brands |work=The Asian Age |url=https://www.asianage.com/india/corporate-museums-showcase-history-brands-793}}{{cite news |title=DS Group – Corporate Museum |language=en-gb |work=mgsarchitecture.in |url=https://www.mgsarchitecture.in/architecture-design/projects/908-ds-group-corporate-museum.html}}
CSR
= Water Conservation =
In 2018, the DS Group launched the Water Economic Zone (WEZ) project in Udaipur, Rajasthan, aimed at managing natural resources, including water and soil.{{Cite web |title=DS Group wins FICCI CSR Award in environment sustainability |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/ds-group-wins-ficci-csr-award-in-environment-sustainability-2315387-2022-12-30 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=India Today |date=30 December 2022 |language=en}} For its efforts, the DS Group received an award in the Environment Sustainability category at the 20th FICCI CSR Awards, presented by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda. As part of the WEZ project, approximately 11,000 hectares of land in the Alsigarh and Kurabad areas of Udaipur district were modified. The company constructed over 900 rainwater harvesting structures, enabling irrigation across 2,300 hectares of land.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-21 |title=DS Group's Water Conservation Projects in Rajasthan improves Ground Water level phenomenally |url=https://udaipurtimes.com/business-udaipur/ds-groups-water-conservation-projects-in-rajasthan-improves/c74416-w2859-cid493813-s10709.htm |access-date= |website=udaipurtimes.com |language=hi}}
= Education =
The DS Group, in partnership with Shikshantar Andolan, launched a project called Creativity Adda to promote skill-based education for students in an all-boys government-aided school for grades 6 to 12 in Darya Ganj, Old Delhi. Developed in collaboration with the Commercial School and the DS Group, the initiative follows an "unschool" model and operates daily from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Manish |title=Welcome To The Creativity Adda |url=http://businessworld.in/article/Welcome-To-The-Creativity-Adda/18-02-2016-91211 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222042638/http://businessworld.in/article/Welcome-To-The-Creativity-Adda/18-02-2016-91211 |archive-date=22 February 2016 |access-date= |website=BW Businessworld |language=en}}
= SaluteTheFarmHER =
In 2023, DS Group launched the SaluteTheFarmHER campaign, a project aimed at highlighting the role of women in agriculture. The initiative was conceived by Grapes and officially launched on International Women's Day in March 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-04 |title=DS Group launches #SaluteTheFarmHER initiative to recognize contributions of female farmers |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ds-group-launches-salutethefarmher-initiative-to-recognize-contributions-of-female-farmers/articleshow/99233057.cms?from=mdr |access-date= |issn=0971-8257}}
Controversies
= Plastic ban violation =
In 2011, the Supreme Court of India issued a contempt notice to DS Group for violating its order against using plastic sachets to sell products. The company had attempted to bypass the Supreme Court's ban on selling products in plastic pouches by falsely labeling them as "only for export", despite being sold domestically at a price of ₹6.{{Cite web |date=2011-05-11 |title=SC fury hits Rajnigandha pan masala co |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/sc-fury-hits-rajnigandha-pan-masala-co/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
= Tax evasion =
In 2015, officials from the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence conducted searches at 25 locations of DS Group's companies across several states, based on gathered intelligence. The investigation revealed that fake invoices for declared goods, labeled as "sandalwood compound or oil", were issued to Messrs Dharampal Satyapal Limited through dummy factories in the Haridwar–Roorkee area, Kanpur, and Lucknow. Owners of these dummy supplier firms admitted to generating bills for DSL on a commission basis without manufacturing or obtaining clearance for declared goods. Allegedly, DS Group evaded taxes by claiming inadmissible Cenvat credit, totaling {{INRConvert|90|c}}.{{Cite web |title=Rajnigandha pan masala maker face alleged tax evasion probe |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/rajnigandha-pan-masala-maker-face-alleged-tax-evasion-probe-523352-2015-12-02 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=India Today |date=2 December 2015 |language=en}}
In 2019, the company was involved in a {{INRConvert|900|c}} scam, which revolved around the avoidance of value-added tax (VAT) on tobacco products. As per the state Criminal Investigation Department, the directors of Dharmpal Satyapal Limited and the Gujarat trade were implicated in importing gutka and other tobacco products into the state without proper documentation, selling them in the market, and thereby avoiding the payment of VAT.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-01 |title=Gujarat: Three held for Rs 900 crore VAT evasion scam |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/three-held-for-rs-900-crore-vat-evasion-scam/articleshow/69121459.cms |access-date=2023-11-10 |issn=0971-8257}}
= Sealing of Guwahati factory =
In 2022, the Mumbai Crime Branch closed down the company's Guwahati facility after discovering that a Pan masala product produced by the company in Guwahati was discovered in the possession of a dealer in Solapur (Maharashtra), where the manufacturing, selling, and storage of Pan masala are prohibited.{{Cite web |title=গুৱাহাটীস্থ DS গ্ৰুপৰ কাৰ্যালয়ত মুম্বাই আৰক্ষীৰ তলা |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/assamese/assam/state/kamrup-metropolitan/mumbai-crime-branch-sealed-ds-group-of-company-office-guwahati/assam20220309193600589 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=ETV Bharat News |date=9 March 2022 |language=as}} However, within a fortnight, the factory was de-sealed following a Guwahati High Court order.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Assam: Dharampal Satyapal factory at Guwahati to be de-sealed- GHC directs |url=https://northeastindia24.com/assam-dharampal-satyapal-factory-at-guwahati-to-be-de-sealed-ghc-directs/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |language=en-US}}
Litigations
In 2016, the Supreme Court imposed a fine of {{INRConvert|4|c}} on Dharampal Satyapal Limited for breaching commitments and causing delays in resolving a 2009 tax dispute. DSL contested a {{INRConvert|244|c}} tax demand related to Central Excise Duty, briefly applied to the Settlement Commission without reaching an agreement, faced dismissal of its petition by the Delhi High Court, and sought relief from the Supreme Court in 2013, securing a stay order against the tax demand.{{Cite web |date=2016-11-21 |title=SC imposes Rs 4 crore fine on makers of Rajnigandha paan masala |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-imposes-rs-4-crore-fine-on-makers-of-rajnigandha-paan-masala/story-2VXDwKwNuCYkbz84YlydTM.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}