FMCG Firms

Expecting 2026 to be a 'favourable year', with policy tailwinds as tax reliefs and GST reforms, along with benign commodities, the Indian FMCG industry looks for a high single-digit volume growth, improvement in margins and comeback of the urban demand, which is a vector of growth. Benign inflation will help expand gross margins, enabling companies to invest more in advertising, the lifeblood of FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods). However, the companies also need to rethink their media strategies, as traditional media is losing relevance amid evolving consumer habits and preferences, driven by where, how, and how much time different age groups spend on media. FMCG companies are also expected to invest in new technologies -- from automation and analytics to AI-driven demand forecasting, supply chain optimisation, and personalised consumer engagement and same-day and 1030 minute Quick-Commerce deliveries are expected to be the critical pillar for omnichannel growth ...

Former Birla Opus CEO Rakshit Hargave to take charge of Britannia Industries from December 15, bringing decades of global consumer sector experience

Tata Consumer Outook: Analysts believe the consumer goods major is reclaiming its high-growth momentum under CEO Sunil D'Souza, backed by strong execution, premiumisation, and sustained innovation.

Pidilite Industries expects a "double digit underlying volume growth' in the second half of the current fiscal, helped by its growth brand steps, along with product innovation and marketing initiatives, its Managing Director Sudhanshu Vats has said. The company expects to continue the momentum in H2 with a higher Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation), as input costs remain benign, Vats said in a post-earnings virtual media roundtable. "We see momentum to continue. Therefore, the underlying double-digit volume growth that we delivered in the first half, we want to continue with that momentum into the second half," said Vats while replying to a query from PTI. The company, which manufactures adhesives, sealants and construction chemicals, had last week reported 9.8 per cent growth in its consolidated net sales to Rs 3,540 crore for the September quarter. Moreover, its Ebitda increased by 24 per cent. The maker of Fevicol, M-Seal, Fevikwik, Dr Fixit,

FMCG companies selling soap to soft drinks in the Indian market reported some impact on their sales in the September quarter from disruption owing to GST reforms, along with unusually heavy rains in parts of the country, but they see growth in the coming quarters, helped by favourable macro-economic conditions. Leading global markers, including Unilever, Reckitt, Heineken, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola, in their respective earnings calls, have mentioned challenges they faced due to disruptions in trade channels in September. "Our emerging market performance is improving; India, in particular, is very well positioned over the medium term. The GST reform has had some impact in the short-term, but we believe it is very good news for 40 per cent of our portfolio with close to a 10 per cent price reduction," Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez said. British FMCG major Reckitt said its net revenue growth in India was impacted in the September quarter due to the implementation of new GST slabs; ...

FMCG companies face muted sales in July-September as distributors slow purchases ahead of GST-driven MRP cuts, with Hindustan Unilever citing a short-term impact

Following the rationalisation of rates under the new GST reforms, most daily-use items have shifted to the lower 5 per cent tax slab, creating a challenge for FMCG firms

The govt could allow discounts to be reflected in the invoice during the transition

Mother Dairy, Hindustan Unilever and others announced price cuts across dairy, foods, ice creams, soaps and shampoos, as GST benefits are passed on to consumers from September 22

P&G Health appointed Shashank Srowthy as chief financial officer from October 1, succeeding Lokesh Chandak, who moves to a regional finance role in P&G Asia

Request for guidelines for smooth transition

With a 'war chest' ready, leading bakery food company Britannia Industries is all set to "fight many battles in smaller territories" against regional players that are giving a tough competition to large brands with aggressive pricing and higher margins for distributors. Britannia, which has recently gone for a price increase to fend against the impact of the commodity inflation, is now "in a good place" and ready to spend in the specific territories to compete against small players, said its Vice Chairman & Managing Director Varun Berry in the earnings call on Wednesday. "We are in a good place. We have also been able to create a war chest for ourselves to be able to spend if we need to, in specific territories, specific states, against specific players. So we are going to fight many battles in smaller territories," he said. Britannia, which owns household brands such as MarieGold, Tiger, Nutrichoice,and Good Day, is doing a "specific analysis on each one of these competitors", ..

Domestic volumes rose 9 per cent, led primarily by its Saffola brand cooking oils and hair oils

India will be a 'key driver of growth for the future' for Nestle which has "faith" in the market that offers a 'large consumption basket', according to Suresh Narayanan, the outgoing Chairman & Managing Director of its Indian arm. The economic and political stability offered by India coupled with 'high consumer resonance' of the company's brands make it an attractive market, he told PTI in an interview. The Swiss FMCG major, which had faced an existential crisis with the Maggi fiasco in 2015, has long left behind the chapter and is investing to enhance capacity, product innovations, expansion of sales network to digitisation for having a "value added journey", said Narayanan who will be retiring by end of July. "I can foresee that even if I am not there at the helm, but the market attraction, the levels of investment and the future of Nestle will continue to be bright in this country," he said when asked how he saw Nestle in the next five years in India. Elaborating, he said, "I ..

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) makers are expecting their topline growth to be impacted in the June quarter due to headwinds like unseasonal rains, a brief summer span and inflation pressure on key inputs. However, the FMCG industry witnessed a sequential recovery in demand during the quarter, with an uptick in volume growth, particularly in urban markets. Margins of FMCG majors such as Marico, Dabur, and Godrej Consumer remained below the normative level, and they expect a low-single-digit volume growth in the April-June period. Godrej Consumer Products expects its margin from the India business to stay below the 'normative range' in the June quarter, but is likely to deliver high-single-digit value growth aided by volume expansion. The company's volume growth, in its standalone business, has been strongly competitive and is sequentially improving, said the Godrej Industries Group FMCG arm in its quarterly updates. "Standalone EBITDA margin in Q1FY26 is likely to be below our

Dabur, Marico and Godrej Consumer see improved trends; AWL flags muted demand

The year has gotten off to a hectic start for ITC, but the momentum has been building with a series of investments, big and small, over the past five years

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of FY26

This strategic acquisition, which entails acquiring the perpetual licence of Velvette, aligns with Reliance's ongoing commitment to building a futuristic business with a solid foundation

FMCG giants like ITC, Nestle, Amul, and Dabur are expanding their e-commerce platforms across cities, offering up to 30 per cent discounts, aiming to boost customer base and direct sales