Gillette India: profits up, sales growth tepid
Gillette India: profits up, sales growth tepid
But Gillette operates in a category that is known to be relatively insulated from such problems. Consumers are generally loyal to their razors and don’t switch brands easily. Gillette also follows a very sensible strategy of affordable pricing for its razors, knowing that customers will come back to buy blades, on which it can get higher margins. That gives it an annuity income that is the envy of any consumer company.
Still, its grooming business did see some impact of the slowdown; product sales grew by just 12%. Some of its business is dependent on consumers switching from cheaper double-blade razors to more expensive twin-edge products. In a slowdown, that rate could get affected. But growth in the grooming products business was still better than that of toothbrushes and batteries, which grew by 8% and 6%, respectively.
Gillette’s overall sales grew by 10.8% to Rs184 crore. Grooming contributes to nearly three-fourths of revenue.
Even though sales growth was subdued, profits grew at a much faster pace. The grooming segment’s profit grew by 25% and oral care profits were up 2.5 times. Operating profits during the quarter were a surprise, growing by 85%. Material costs declined by 10% during the quarter, chiefly due to a reduction in traded goods.
Its profit before tax and exceptional items nearly doubled to Rs58.6 crore. But an exceptional income of Rs14 crore in the June 2008 quarter slowed net profit growth to 28% this year.
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