P&G Hygeine pens Rs 20 cr expansion

Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (PGHH), the Indian arm of the Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, is charting out an expansion plan at an investment of Rs 20 crore.

With its hygiene brand Whisper touching an all-time high sales of Rs 164 crore, PGHH is planning to expand its Goa unit with a capex of Rs 20 crore, said Bharat Patel, chairman of PGHH, at the company's 40th annual general meeting.

The Whisper range of products has seen a growth of 15 per cent in 2003-04, while its big-ticket brand Vicks has crossed the Rs 200 crore sales mark in the same period.

Patel added that the company would continue to invest and grow its two businesses""healthcare and feminine hygiene business. P&G's brands reach over eight lakh retail outlets.

These include its detergent and shampoo brands "" Ariel, Tide, Pantene, Head & Shoulders and Rejoice that is owned by Procter & Gamble Home Products, the wholly owned subsidiary of P&G.

Under the Vicks franchisee, only Vicks VapoRub is made in-house, the other products are manufactured on contract.

PGHH's exports in the healthcare business has declined as the parent company directly sources from Indian contract manufacturers. Thus, it does not get reflected in PGHH's books.