Mumbai: Fast moving consumer goods maker Dabur India Ltd on Wednesday said profit rose 3.6% to Rs79.64 crore for the quarter ended 31 March.

The company said it incurred higher taxes on and invested heavily in its new retail venture during the period. The tax provision in the fourth-quarter was Rs13.4 crore against Rs5.4 crore in the year-ago period.

The company, which sells Dabur Chyawanprash and Vatika shampoo, said sales increased 14.3% to Rs606.49 crore from Rs530.73 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Dabur’s consumer care business grew by 12%, while its health supplements business posted a 21% growth during the quarter.

Dabur’s food business, led by its fruit-based beverage called Real, grew by 17.8% in sales to Rs81.97 crore.

During the quarter, Dabur’s subsidiary H&B Stores opened its first New U store in New Delhi. Employee cost increased 35%, primarily due to the retail launch, the company said.

For the fiscal year ended March, net profit increased by 18.2% to Rs332.94 crore against Rs281.74 crore in the previous fiscal. Sales for the full year stood at Rs2,361 crore, a jump of 15.6% over Rs2,043 crore in fiscal 2007.

Dabur shares gained 0.14% to close at Rs106.30 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.