Tej Lalvani is an Indian born British businessman who runs UK’s largest vitamin company Vitabiotics. He is one of the investors on BBC Two television business program Dragons’ Den. Before he was chosen as a ‘dragon’, he had kept a low profile even with his wealth.
Tej Lalvani’s net worth is £390 million. His earning is from his position as the CEO of Vitabiotics, a company founded by his father, Professor Kartar Lalvani. He also earns from his appearance on the show and his investments on Dragons’ Den.
This article gives a run-down of the soft-spoken and calm dragon Tej Lalvani; his net worth, age, wife, house and mother.
Early Life
Tej Lalvani was born on 13 July 1974. His parents are Professor Kartar Lalvani also a pharmacist and Malathi who was a former Miss India and Miss World Runner-up. In his tender age, he joggled between India and London because his parents divorced when he was eight condemning him to a turbulent life. ‘One parent was in the UK, one was in India, so until I was 16, I lived between the two countries.’ His father, who had moved to London founded Vitabiotics in 1971, a company which specialized in vitamin and mineral-based food supplements.
During this period, Lalvani attended about eight different schools. Lalvani complained about having difficulty in making new friends and getting used to the new environment and cultural differences which she believed made tougher to adjust to different business situations. Lalvani attended Westminster Business School at the University of Westminster because of his immense interest in business. He studied pharmaceutical science in other universities in Germany and India before he joined his father’s company. He abandoned his desire to become a movie director.
His first job in his father’s company was a fork light driver in the company’s warehouse. His career started at that point. From there, he worked in other departments learning the ropes and familiarising himself with every aspect of the business. He quickly climbed the company’s ranks and became the CEO of Vitabiotics, while his father remained the chairman of the business. Fast forward to today; Lalvani had taken his father’s company from £2 million to excess of £300 million annual turnovers.
Lalvani’s role in Vitabiotics
Lalvani takeover of the family business led to remarkable growth in the company’s revenue. The company turns out over £300 million annually and maintains the number one spot of UK vitamin company without loans or foreign investors. In words of Lalvani, ‘We don’t have any outside investors, business loans or overdraft, we would rather use our own money and not answerable to anybody else.’ He said decision making and running of the business was easy, as a family. ‘What is good is the speed at which things can get done. As a family, you also think more long term than if you’re public and have shareholders to answers to.’
Lalvani took the company through a different route the moment he took over the reins of the company. He leads the company into the digital age phase because of his understanding of e-commerce, digital marketing, branding and advertising. In his early years down the ladder of the company, he had developed a flair for branding, product design, advertising and marketing. He applied these experiences the moment he became the CEO and turned the family business to a multi-million company.
He aims to take the company beyond the UK market and global with the US and China in mind. ‘I want to turn Vitabiotics into the number one specialist vitamins and supplement business in the world.’ He takes his time to check customers’ emails to understand how he will improve the company to serve the customers better. He does that because he knows the threat the company’s sales may face with the rising emphasis on dieting against the demands of vitamins, minerals and supplements.
Vitabiotics products are Perfectil, Wellman, Wellman, Well-kid, and Pregnacare; they are among the top-selling Britain vitamin supplements. Lalvani has brought in top celebrities as ambassadors in his massive advertising and branding project. David Gandy, an English male fashion model, is the face of Wellman, Tess Daly, an English model, novelist and TV presenter is the face of Wellwoman, Heidi Klum Germany born supermodel, American Got Talent Judge and Runway Project Reality Show star is the face of Perfectil, and Peppa Pig is the face of Well-kid.
Awards
Results come with rewards, following Lalvani manifestation of his business sense in the growth of Vitabiotics, he and his company got recognized with awards. He was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012 and received The Indus Entrepreneur (TiE) Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. Lalvani featured as number 48 on the GG2’s Power List of the Most Influential Asian People in Britain.
The company was not left in the awards. The company received Boots’ Vitamin Supplier of the Year awards in 2002 – 2005, and the Boots’ Vitamin Overall Supplier of the Year in 2009. It also received Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2003 and 2008, J P Morgan’s family Business Award in 2009 and Queen’s Award for Innovation in Vitamin Research in 2013. The company alongside Tej Lalvani Supports some Charities in the UK such as Bliss, a charity committed to the well-being of women, premature and sick babies across the UK.
Tej Lalvani Dragons’ Den
Tej Lalvani has always been a fan of BBC Two Television Show Dragons’ Den before making his first appearance on the show. The success of his company drew the attention of the producers of the show. Lalvani succeeded Nick Jenkins as the next ‘dragon’ for the 15th series of the television reality show in 2017. He replaced Steven Parish, Crystal Palace Football Club co-owner who was billed to succeed Nick Jenkins but left because of other business commitment.
Lalvani investment in Dragons’ Den include Hanna Sillitoe (a health brand focused on providing exceptional skincare), Look After My Bills (a utility company that cuts your gas and electricity bills without you having to do a thing), Wool Couture (a leading designer and retailer of luxury yarns) and TEA + Drinks. Other of his investments are Nestor, ShakesSphere, Splento, Popxo, Asystem and Matchstick Monkey.
Tej Lalvani’s wife and house
Tej Lalvani married Tara Ruby in 2011 in London, and they have two children. He spends time with his wife and children when he is less busy with business schedule because he doesn’t want his children to share the experience he had growing up. Lalvani is a musician, he composes his music in his private studio and plays different musical instruments such as guitar, keyboard and drums.
Tej Lalvani net worth
Tej Lalvani’s net worth is £390 million. His earning is from his position as the CEO of Vitabiotics, a company founded by his father, Professor Kartar Lalvani. He also earns from his appearance on the show and his investments on Dragons’ Den.