Reckitt & Colman To Unveil 3 Products

Reckitt & Colman will soon launch a trio of new products, which includes Dettol shaving cream, Woolite, a light detergent for fine fabrics and an insecticide called Wood Polish.

This year, the company proposes to exploit the growing opportunities that exist in some key categories of its portfolio, namely, antiseptics, pest control and laundry care.

It has already launched Woolite in certain parts of North India, and plans to expand its distribution in the coming months throughout the country.

Besides, the company is looking at building a business in some other categories of global import, company sources said.

R&C has been making steady profits in the past half decade, demonstrating a topline growth of just under 20 per cent over the last five years.

The company has decided world-wide that its core household and pharmaceutical business categories will be managed globally so that the company can leverage its strength and reach. The move is also expected to enable the company to effectively meet the challenges from global and local competitors.

Though R&C has globally sold off its foods portfolio to Unilever, in India it continues to retain the division which includes the Robinsons brand.

NEPC had reportedly made an aborted attempt to buy out the foods division, which contributes about Rs 5 crore to R&Cs bottomline.

In India, the company has presence in the areas of ultramarine blue, food products, antiseptics, polishes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and mosquito repellents. The R&C brand portfolio includes, Dettol, Cheery Blossom, Robin, Harpic, Dispirin, Brasso, Silvo and Mortein mosquito coils.

In 1994, the company entered into an agreement with Shell International Petroleum to market the Teepol brand in India and Nepal. Thereafter, it launched Teepol B 300 in October 1995.

Reckett & Colman also exports tea, marine products and cashew kernel.