L'Oreal eyes Rs 7,000 cr in India sales by 2020

Demand for quality beauty products among India's middle class may help L'Oreal grow by 20% every year in the country

L'Oreal, the world's biggest cosmetics group, plans to quadruple sales over the next seven years in India, the fastest-growing beauty market in the world.

The company, which opened a research centre in Mumbai on Thursday to develop products specifically for Indian consumers, aims to grow sales to Rs 7,000 crore by 2020, its chief executive Jean-Paul Agon said.

Rising demand for quality and high-end beauty products among India's emerging middle class is expected to help L'Oreal grow by more than 20% every year in the country.

The French company, which sells shampoos and cosmetics under brands such as L'Oreal Paris, Garnier and Maybelline New York, had earlier said it planned to invest Rs 970 crore in India from 2011 through 2016.

"Out of the 66 shades of skin colour found in this world, more than 40 are found in India. That's an example of how varied and complex the requirements of this market are," Jochen Zaumseil, executive vice-president, Asia-Pacific, told Reuters.

L'Oreal, which has only 8% market share in India and faces tough competition from the likes of Hindustan Unilever and Procter and Gamble, said it is open to acquiring strong regional brands but is focusing on growing the business organically.

India contributes between 1 and 2% of the company's global revenue but is strategically one of its top five markets, Agon said.