MARICO

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Solid demand in rural areas, as well as higher prices of staples including edible oil and wheat flour, helped the consumer goods sector report a 10.6% sales growth in the December quarter, market researcher NielsenIQ said on Thursday.

India's rural areas - which account for just over a third of consumer goods sales - have proven a bright spot for an industry struggling with an inflation-led spending slowdown in large cities.

"Rural markets (continued) to lead the charge, outpacing urban consumption (during the December quarter)," Roosevelt Dsouza, head of customer success for consumer goods at NielsenIQ, said in a statement.

Sales volume jumped 9.9% in rural areas in the December quarter, up from 5.7% in the previous quarter - double the 5% increase in urban centers, NielsenIQ said. But it added urban pockets also improved from the September quarter's 2.6% growth.

Rural areas have outperformed urban locations for the last four quarters, benefiting from income support schemes rolled out by several Indian states, while slowing salary increases in cities have squeezed consumer spending.

In the October-December quarter, overall volume rose by 7.1% - the highest in over a year - driven by demand for laundry products and edible oil, even as prices rose by 3.3%, according to NielsenIQ.

Dabur India DABU.NS and Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS reported a higher December-quarter profit on recovering rural demand.

However, large consumer goods makers, with topline exceeding 50 billion rupees ($571.2 million) are also facing stiff competition from smaller rivals, whose sales increased roughly twice as fast during the festive quarter, NielsenIQ said.

Consumer goods makers have also raised product prices to counter price increases in commodities such as copra and cocoa, with cooking oil maker Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS and Hindustan Unilever warning of further hikes.

Indians also preferred smaller product packs during the quarter, NielsenIQ said, echoing comments from Hindustan Unilever.

($1 = 87.5400 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai; Editing by Eileen Soreng)

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Jan 31 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday, as higher raw material costs and marketing spends overshadowed price increases-led growth.

Rising prices of raw materials including copra and vegetable oil weighed on the Parachute coconut oil maker's profits, while the company also faces intense competition and continues to spend heavily on marketing and advertising.

Marico's expenses rose 17.7% to 23.18 billion rupees ($267.54 million) during the third quarter ended Dec. 31.

Consolidated net profit stood at 3.99 billion rupees ($46.05 million), compared to 3.83 billion rupees a year earlier. Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 4.02 billion rupees, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Revenue, however, came in at 27.94 billion rupees, up 15.4% from a year earlier, supported by improving demand in rural areas and product price increases.

Marico said it would raise prices of its products further to make up for an expected "firmness" in commodity prices, noting copra prices, up 38% this financial year, were ahead of its forecasts.

It also said its revenue would increase in the double-digit percentage range in the medium term by increasing its market share across its portfolio of brands.

Meanwhile, Dove soap maker and industry bellwether Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS reported below-expectation results last week and forecast margin pressures ahead.

($1 = 86.6400 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

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Jan 27 (Reuters) - India's Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a two-fold surge in third-quarter profit on Monday, buoyed by higher demand in its core edible oils segment.

The consumer goods company, which makes the Fortune brand of cooking oil, reported a consolidated net profit of 4.11 billion rupees ($47.56 million) for the quarter ended Dec. 31 from 2.01 billion rupees a year ago.

Shares rose 3% after the results.

Revenue from its core edible oils segment - which accounted for over 79% of total revenue - grew 38% during the quarter, driven by increased demand for sunflower and mustard oils.

The company said it recorded in 5% growth in volumes in the quarter.

Cooking oil has largely resisted the broader slowdown in branded consumer goods due to its essential nature, despite brands increasing prices in recent months to offset rising ingredient costs, as per analysts.

Expenses rose 30% due to a sharp rise in underlying commodity prices, driven by a hike in customs duty in mid-September.

Adani Wilmar's foods unit, which includes products such as soya chunks and basmati rice, recorded a 22% revenue growth, driven by increased demand from general trade and e-commerce channels, according to its quarterly update.

It reported a 31% increase in total revenue, hitting 168.59 billion rupees.

In late December, the Adani Group announced its exit from the consumer goods unit - which it owned in a joint venture with Singapore's Wilmar International WLIL.SI - selling its entire stake to its Singaporean partner and through the open market.

Rival Marico MRCO.NS said in its update it anticipated third-quarter revenue growth in the mid-teen percentage range, supported by improving rural consumption and stronger demand for its Parachute and Saffola oil brands.

($1 = 86.4250 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

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Jan 3 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods firm Marico MRCO.NS on Friday estimated its consolidated quarterly revenue will rise in the mid-teen percentage range, boosted by improving rural consumption and higher demand for its Parachute and Saffola brands of oils.

Cooking oil has largely withstood a broader slowdown among branded consumer goods due to its essential nature, according to analysts, even as brands raised prices in recent months to make up for higher ingredient costs.

Analysts are expecting a 11.2% rise in consolidated revenue in the quarter, as per LSEG data.

The Parachute coconut oil brand has been "resilient" in terms of revenue, while Saffola has "held firm in volume terms", the company said.

However, Marico said it expects a higher-than-anticipated gross margin contraction on a year-on-year basis and modest operating profit growth for the third quarter ended Dec. 31 due to higher raw materials and expansion costs.

The update from Marico comes two months after it tipped its consolidated revenue to grow year-on-year in the double-digit percentage range between October and March.

However, sales in large cities are under pressure as consumers cut back on spending due to high costs of living. Marico CEO Saugata Gupta told Reuters in November that urban consumption would take at least six months to revive.

The urban segment accounted for about 30% of its domestic sales, as of June-end.

Marico's international business, which accounts for a quarter of its overall revenue, will report a mid-teen constant currency growth in revenue in the third quarter, the company said.

Gupta in November had said Marico was looking to expand in the United States and East Africa as well as enter Indonesia.

In 2024, Marico shares rose 16.6%, compared with a 0.3% fall in the Nifty consumer goods index .NIFTYFMCG.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam and Meenakshi Maidas; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

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Dec 18 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• APEX COURT DISMISSES COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE APPEAL

• INDIA APEX COURT UPHOLDS ORDER CLASSIFYING PURE COCONUT OIL AS EDIBLE OIL FOR LEVY OF DUTY

Source text: ID:nBSE6CfHpF

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];;))

By Dhwani Pandya

MUMBAI, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS expects urban consumption will take at least six months to revive, its managing director told Reuters, signaling more pain for the sector from food inflation which has hit a 15-month high.

With a market cap of $9.12 billion, Marico is best known for its iconic coconut oil brand "Parachute" and edible oil brand "Saffola", and competes with the likes of Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS and Nestle NEST.NS.

India's annual inflation for food items, which account for nearly half of the consumption basket, hit a 15-month high of 10.87% in October, and retail inflation surged to a 14-month high in the same month, driven by a jump in vegetable prices and dashing hopes of an interest rate cut by the central bank next month.

"It will take a couple of quarters for urban consumption to revive. But I think once the food inflation is sorted out to a large extent, urban consumption is expected to recover," Marico Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Saugata Gupta said in an interview in Mumbai.

"Whenever there is a food inflation, there is an impact on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods)...consumers either downgrade or titrate consumption," he added.

India's middle class, estimated to be a third of its 1.4 billion people, has been cutting spending due to higher food inflation, impacting the earnings of largest consumer goods firms.

Though consumption is mainly affected among the middle- and lower-income classes, there is not much impact on those with high incomes, Gupta said.

India has seen high luxury spending in recent months - German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz' car sales in India grew 13% in first nine months of this year, its best-everperformance, while sales of luxury apartments in country's top seven cities surged nearly 38% during that period.

Marico's international business contributes around 27% of consolidated revenue and it has a strong presence in Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Middle East, and is looking to expand operations in the United States and East Africa, as well as entering the Indonesian market, Gupta said.

In Bangladesh, where Marico has a distribution network of more than 770,000 outlets, the company's operations were briefly disrupted after violent student-led protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.

Gupta said Bangladesh's share of Marico's international revenues dropped from 44% in the year ended March 2024 to under 40% now, and could fall further as its grows more in other geographies.

(Reporting by Dhwani Pandya; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Ros Russell)

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Nov 12 - By Ira Dugal, Editor Financial News, with global Reuters staff.

Hello, I'm Ira Dugal and I head financial news for Reuters in India. Join me each Tuesday as I lead you through the biggest stories out of India, and Asia.

Indian corporations have reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the July-September quarter. Are corporate report cards signalling a slowdown in the world's fastest growing major economy? That's our focus this week.

What does Donald Trump's return to the White House mean for emerging markets? Scroll down for "Market matters".

THIS WEEK IN ASIA

** China unveils $1.4 trillion local debt package but no direct stimulus

** Putin signs into law mutual defence treaty with North Korea

** Toyota aims to ramp up China production

** Pakistan limits outdoor activities, market hours to curb air pollution-related illness

A GROWTH SPEED BUMP

Big names in Indian consumer goods, including Hindustan Unilever and Nestle India, were arguably the top disappointments during the past month's quarterly earnings season, when negative surprises and foreign investor selling drove the benchmark Nifty 50 down 6.2% for October - its steepest monthly drop in four-and-a-half years.

That wasn't just bad news for the companies' share prices. It rattled investors with a warning that India's burgeoning urban middle class - a key force driving the world's fastest growing major economy - were reining in spending on goods from soap to shampoo to biscuits and tea.

That could be a harbinger of unwelcome change for an economy accustomed to rapid growth, which reached 8.2% in the last financial year and is forecast to remain above 7% this year.

So far, analysts are seeing the slowdown at least partly as cyclical, a normal reaction after a period of strong growth, rather than as a sign of flagging demand. But they also point to inflation, seen hitting a 14-month high in October on higher food prices, as a more stubborn problem that is eroding urban spending power.

Whether the slowdown worsens or stabilises depends on the strength of rural demand, after a strong monsoon and recent easing of farm policies, as well as the pace of government spending and a possible easing of interest rates by the central bank, which has also loosened its grip on liquidity.

The starkest earnings underperformance was among consumer goods firms, especially those that sell daily-use products to the urban middle class.

Urban Indians, who account for more than one-third of the world's most populous nation, spend 71% more than their rural counterparts, according to monthly consumption data. Consumption comprises 60% of India's GDP.

Nestle India Chairman Suresh Narayan said the market was clearly facing muted demand, as well as pressure from inflation. "Food inflation has been a cause of concern due to sharp uptick in prices of fruits and vegetables and (edible) oil," he told reporters after the company's earnings release.

He noted that growth in the food and beverage sector, in double-digits just a couple quarters ago, is now down to 1.5-2%.

Analysts linked the slower spending growth to a decline in disposable incomes.

India economists at Citi note that growth in inflation-adjusted wage costs for listed Indian firms - a proxy for urban dwellers' earnings - has held below 2% for all three quarters of calendar 2024, and well below the 10-year average of 4.4%.

Not all the earnings news was bad. Colgate Palmolive reported stronger demand from rural areas, while Marico, which sells cooking oil brands popular with rural consumers, said it expects double-digit revenue growth in the second half of the financial year.

Sales of high-end goods also proved resilient. In the auto sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, which sells popular sports utility vehicles, outperformed earnings expectations, although Maruti, with a wider portfolio that includes entry-level cars, was more vulnerable to sluggish demand.

All in all, analysts and economists see the latest quarterly earnings as more bad news than good.

Jefferies India downgraded full-year earnings estimates for 63% of the 121 large companies it covers, the highest downgrade ratio since 2020, when the COVID-19 crisis hit. It attributed that to a cyclical slowdown in the economy.

For the full year, Barclays has lowered its forecast for GDP growth to 6.8% from 7%.

Will growth continue to slip in the second half of the financial year, or will it stabilise? Write to me with your views at [email protected].

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let's work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday after he won the U.S. presidential election.

With Trump's win, India is open to freeing up market access for U.S. firms, sources told Reuters.

MARKET MATTERS

Investors hoping for a "Goldilocks" moment for emerging markets in 2025 are facing significant uncertainty after the U.S. presidential elections.

The dollar's rigorous rally, higher bond yields and the prospect of the Federal Reserve slowing the pace of interest rate cuts weighed on emerging market currencies.

Asia could be surprisingly resilient in the face of this increased uncertainty. Investors may also look for safety in Indian assets, given its domestically focused economy.

(By Ira Dugal; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

** Shares of Marico MRCO.NS rise 7.1% to 673.7 rupees, eyeing best one-day pct gain since May 7

** Stock top gainer on Nifty FMCG index .NIFTYFMCG, which is one of two main indexes trading higher, while remaining 11 are in the red

** The consumer goods maker posted ~20% rise in Q2 profit, ahead of analysts' average estimates

** Q2 revenue growth led by price hikes to offset higher raw material prices

** Twenty-five analysts covering the stock on avg have a "buy" rating; median PT is 717.5 rupees - LSEG data

** Stock up 23% so far this year vs a 0.9% rise in .NIFTYFMCG

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

(([email protected] ; ( +91 8078332441))

Oct 29 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS reported second-quarter profit well above market estimates on Tuesday, propped up by price hikes undertaken to offset higher raw material prices.

The company reported a near-20% rise in consolidated net profit to 4.23 billion rupees ($50.3 million) for the three months ended Sept. 30.

Analysts were expecting a profit of 3.86 billion rupees, according to data compiled by LSEG.

To offset a 25% year-on-year increase in prices of copra, the main raw material used to produce coconut oil, Marico raised prices of the product in India.

The price hikes included a 15% increase in its edible oil segment.

"Pricing growth for the sector turned positive on a year-on-year basis as brands effected price increases in response to rising commodity prices," Marico said in a statement.

It said its gross margin expanded by 30 basis points from a year earlier as healthy margin improvements more than made up for rise in input costs.

Sales volumes of "Parachute" coconut oils - its biggest segment by domestic revenue - rose 4%, while revenue grew 10%.

Meanwhile, sales volume of Marico's "Saffola" brand of edible oils were flat year-on-year, while revenue rose 2% due to price hikes.

Marico's revenue from operations rose 7.6% to 26.64 billion rupees.

The company forecast domestic revenue growth in double digit percentages in the second half of the fiscal year, and said it expects international business to maintain constant currency growth in double-digit percentages.

Marico and rival Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS have posted largely solid results, propped up by demand for cooking oils.

This stands in contrast to Nestle India NEST.NS, Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS and ITC ITC.NS which reported downbeat earnings due to a slowdown in demand.

($1 = 84.0370 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai and Nishit Navin in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K)

(([email protected]; +91 867-525-3569;))

Oct 17 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• INCORPORATED SUBSIDIARY COCOSECRETS CONSUMER CARE LLC IN DELAWARE, USA

Source text for Eikon: ID:nNSE7DDMDC

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];;))

Oct 2 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• DOMESTIC BUSINESS POSTED MID-SINGLE DIGIT VOLUME GROWTH IN Q2

• Q2 CONSOLIDATED REVENUE GROWTH REMAINED IN HIGH SINGLE DIGITS

• PARACHUTE COCONUT OIL POSTED CLOSE TO MID-SINGLE DIGIT VOLUME GROWTH IN Q2

• HIGHER REALISATIONS IN DOMESTIC BUSINESS OFFSET BY CURRENCY HEADWINDS IN FEW OVERSEAS MARKET IN Q2

• INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DELIVERED LOW TEEN CONSTANT CURRENCY GROWTH IN Q2

• BANGLADESH POSTED HIGH-SINGLE DIGIT GROWTH IN Q2

• BANGLADESH OPERATING ENVIRONMENT WHICH HAS NOW LARGELY STABILIZED

• COPRA PRICES ROSE AHEAD OF INTERNAL FORECASTS IN Q2

• MAINTAINS GOAL OF DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE, PROFITABLE VOLUME-LED GROWTH OVER MEDIUM TERM

Source text for Eikon: [ID:]

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];;))

** Shares of Marico Ltd MRCO.NS rise as much as 2.9% to record 713.50 rupees, last up 1%

** Emkay upgrades stock to "add" from "reduce", raises PT to 775 rupees from 700 rupees earlier

** Brokerage sees MRCO benefiting from improving demand environment helping earnings growth and rise in copra prices which would boost rev for its popular parachute hair oil business

** MRCO and most other consumer goods stocks on 15-member Nifty FMCG index .NIFTYFMCG rated "buy" on avg - LSEG

** Emkay upgrade is MRCO's first upgrade in 2-1/2 months after six-straight downgrades - LSEG

** In that time, MRCO has risen 7.7%, trailing consumer goods stocks' 10.7% rise

** However, MRCO's YTD rise of ~28% outperforms FMCG index's 16% rise

(Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; Mobile: +91 9591011727;))

** Shares of consumer goods firm Marico Ltd MRCO.NS close down 1.7%, Hindustan Unilever Ltd HLL.NS up 0.2%

** CLSA maintains "underperform" rating on both stocks, raises MRCO's PT from 460 rupees to 470 rupees

** Both cos at risk of losing market share as consumers increasingly purchase from quick commerce apps over local grocers

** Zomato ZOMT.NS, which owns quick commerce firm Blinkit, is brokerage's top consumer sector pick as it benefits from consumer affinity towards quick commerce

** CLSA says HLL's advantage as consumer market leader narrowing as smaller players undercut co's pricing on quick commerce apps, which would hurt gross margins in medium term

** On MRCO, says quick commerce is eating into dominance in core segments of edible oils and Saffola brand, which are not sufficiently present on quick commerce apps

** MRCO up 17% YTD, outperforming FMCG index's 11% rise, while HLL up just 5%

(Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru)

(([email protected]; Mobile: +91 9591011727;))

** Shares of India's Marico MRCO.NS rise 2.6% to 661 rupees in early trade

** Consumer goods maker said it has resumed manufacturing operations in Bangladesh, a country that contributes to nearly half of its international revenues

** 'Parachute' branded hair oil maker top pct gainer in Nifty FMCG index .NIFTYFMCG, which is up 0.2%

** MRCO, on an avg, rated "buy" with median PT at 710 rupees - LSEG data

** YTD stock has risen ~21%, outperforming a 8.5% gain in NIFTYFMCG

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru)

(([email protected];))

Aug 12 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS IN BANGLADESH HAVE RESUMED AT NORMAL SCALE

• LARGE MAJORITY OF BANGLADESH RETAIL SALES FORCE, DISTRIBUTORS HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING SINCE LAST WEEK

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSEbV5G9S

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];))

Updates with details, context on Bangladesh, company background

BENGALURU, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS said on Wednesday that a majority of its retail sales force and distributors have resumed operations in Bangladesh following a brief interruption, and that it expects manufacturing operations to resume soon.

Bangladesh saw violent student-led protests that culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday. Following this, its army announced the formation of an interim government, with Bangladesh's president appointing Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to head it.

The 'Parachute' hair oil maker gets 44% of its international revenues from the country, where it has a distribution network of more than 770,000 outlets, as per Marico's website.

"We would like to inform you that operating conditions in the market are gradually improving," Marico said in a statement.

"We firmly believe that the medium-term prospects of Marico’s business in Bangladesh remain intact."

International revenues account for about 26% of Marico's total revenues. Analysts have estimated Marico's revenue exposure to Bangladesh at 11%.

The company said it "remains watchful" of the situation in the country and is prioritising the safety of its employees, factory workers, distributors and other stakeholders. It had earlier flagged in a post-earnings call that the impact of the interruption was not immediately clear.

Marico has been looking to diversify into other markets like Vietnam and South Africa to reduce earnings dependence on Bangladesh.

"We expect the revenue share of Bangladesh to moderate gradually to about 40% by FY27," Managing Director and CEO Saugata Gupta said in Marico's latest annual report.

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K)

(([email protected]; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))

** Indian garments maker Pearl Global Industries PGIL.NS falls 3.3%, consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS drop 3.8%

** Cos among those that have highest revenue exposure to Bangladesh at 24% and 11%, respectively, stoking concerns, analysts at SMC Global and Motilal Oswal say, as Bangladesh grapples with political unrest after Sheikh Hasina's resignation as PM on Monday

** MRCO says it is watchful of ongoing issues in Bangladesh and impact is not immediately clear

** Garden Reach Shipbuilders GRSE.NS, which gets vessel orders from Bangladesh and calls it a "focus" country, down 3.4%

** Meanwhile, Indian garment makers rise on the day on hopes that because of unrest, big brands outsourcing their manufacturing to Bangladesh may see India as an option, analyst says

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee and Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru)

(([email protected];))

Aug 5 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• MARICO Q1 CONSOL NET PROFIT 4.64 BILLION RUPEES; IBES PROFIT EST. 4.63 BILLION RUPEES

• MARICO Q1 CONSOL REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS 26.43 BILLION RUPEES; IBES EST. 26.60 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: [ID:]

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];))

July 30 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• GOT TAX DEMAND OF 1.42 BILLION RUPEES

Source text for Eikon: ID:nBSE25V2PW

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];))

BENGALURU, July 29 (Reuters) - India's Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a first-quarter profit on Monday, compared with a year-ago loss, helped by higher sales of its edible oils and foods such as basmati rice, sending its shares up more than 6% in afternoon trading.

The company, a joint venture between Indian ports-to-power Adani group and Singapore's Wilmar International WLIL.SI, reported a consolidated net profit of 3.13 billion rupees ($37.4 million) for the April-June quarter.

That compared with a year-ago loss of 789.2 million rupees.

A 2% year-on-year rise in prices of palm oil -- a key raw material -- helped power an 8% jump in revenue in Adani Wilmar's mainstay edible oil segment.

Sales volumes rose 12% in the business, which includes the 'Fortune' brand of oil and accounts for three-fourths of the company's total revenue.

The stability in edible oil prices augurs well and the consumer shift to branded staples is also benefitting the business, said CEO and Managing Director Angshu Mallick.

Revenue from the company's foods unit, which includes soya chunks and basmati rice, grew 40%, with volumes surging 42%.

Adani Wilmar, which has also been expanding its distribution, said overall revenue increased 10% to 141.69 billion rupees.

Earlier this month, Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS, which makes 'Ruchi Gold' brand of edible oils, reported a threefold jump in quarterly profit, also benefitting from stable edible oil prices and higher demand for its packaged foods.

'Saffola' oil-maker Marico MRCO.NS is set to report results next month.

Adani Wilmar's shares were last up 6.4%, cutting their losses for the year to 2.6%. Patanjali Foods's stock has risen about 7% in 2024, while Marico's has jumped nearly 24%.

($1 = 83.7275 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee and Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected]; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))

BENGALURU/CHENNAI, July 19 (Reuters) - India's Patanjali Foods PAFO.NS reported a threefold jump in quarterly profit on Friday, as the consumer goods maker benefited from stable edible oil prices and higher demand for its packaged foods.

Branded cooking oil sellers including Saffola parent Marico MRCO.NS, Fortune brand owner Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS and Patanjali typically book higher profits when edible oil prices are stable, according to industry executives.

Patanjali's profit after tax rose to 2.63 billion Indian rupees ($31.44 million) for the quarter ended June 30 from 877.5 million rupees a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing.

The Ruchi Gold oil maker, which brings in nearly three-fourth of its revenue from its edible oil business, said the reduced volatility in the prices drove profit growth, with expenses decreasing 11% in the first quarter.

Patanjali also said revenue from its foods and consumer goods business increased marginally even as its edible oil segment fell due to a heat waves-triggered drop in demand.

Overall revenue dropped 7.6% to 71.73 billion rupees.

Patanjali is the first major consumer goods maker to report earnings. Larger peers Adani Wilmar and Marico expect an uptick in quarterly sales, according to quarterly updates earlier this month.

($1 = 83.6640 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru and Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

(([email protected]; Mobile: +91 9591011727;))

July 12 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• IN MEDIUM TERM, CO AIMS TO DELIVER DOUBLE-DIGIT REVENUE GROWTH - ANNUAL REPORT

• EXPECTS DOMESTIC REVENUE GROWTH TO OUTPACE VOLUME GROWTH FROM Q1FY25 - ANNUAL REPORT

• EXPECTS OPERATING MARGIN TO INCH UP OVER NEXT FEW YEARS - ANNUAL REPORT

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

(([email protected];))

** Shares of Marico MRCO.NS rise 3.7% to 638 rupees

** MRCO top gainer on Nifty FMCG index, which is up 0.3%

** Consumer goods maker says consolidated revenue saw high single-digit percentage growth in Q1 and expects consol rev growth to trend upwards during FY25

** Adds domestic business saw "modest uptick" in volume growth and international business saw double-digit constant currency growth during Q1

** Thirty-seven analysts covering stock on avg have a "buy" rating; median PT is 615.5 rupees - LSEG data

** Stock up 13% so far this year; rivals Dabur DABU.NS, and Tata Consumer Products TACN.NS up 9% and 5%, respectively; Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS down 4%

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

(([email protected] ; ( +91 8078332441))

Adds Adani Wilmar's update throughout

BENGALURU, July 5 (Reuters) - Indian consumer goods companies Marico MRCO.NS, Dabur DABU.NS and Adani Wilmar ADAW.NS reported a pick up in first-quarter revenue growth as demand improved gradually, with consumers spending more on personal care and cooking products.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Volume trends from key consumer goods companies, which sell everything from hair and cooking oils to oats, are seen as an important indicator of consumption patterns in the country.

KEY CONTEXT

Marico gets more than a quarter of its sales from rural India, while almost half of Dabur's sales is from villages and small towns. Both are expected to be key beneficiaries of the recovery in rural demand as companies cut prices, analysts said.

The recovery, though, is not complete from last financial year when persistently high inflation forced consumers to tighten their wallets.

Rival Godrej Consumer Products GOCP.NS is also due to post its quarterly update.

BY THE NUMBERS

(Reporting by Varun Hebbalalu and Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sohini Goswami and Savio D'Souza)

(([email protected];))

** Shares of Kaya KAYA.NS rise 10% to 499.5 rupees

** The skin and hair care products maker said late Wednesday it will collaborate with consumer goods maker Marico MRCO.NS which will exclusively handle sales and marketing of Kaya's products

** Shares of MRCO up 0.2%

** KAYA up ~48% so far this year, eyes best yearly gain since Dec. 2021

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

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** Shares of Marico MRCO.NS fall 2% to 608 rupees

** The consumer products maker's price hikes may drive customers to alternative brands, analysts at CLSA say; add that co's headroom for growth is narrow

** Expect increased competition from private brands that offer coconut oil at cheaper prices than Parachute

** CLSA reiterates "underperform" rating on stock, maintains street low PT of 460 rupees

** Brokerage also expects increased competition in edible oil segment, with Saffola losing market share

** Thirty-seven analysts covering the stock have a "buy" rating on avg; median PT is 610 rupees - LSEG data

** MRCO among top losers on Nifty FMCG index .NIFTYFMCG, which is down 0.52%

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru)

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BENGALURU, May 7 (Reuters) - Indian fast-moving consumer goods' sales rose in January-March, with rural growth outpacing that in urban areas for the first time in five quarters, market researcher NielsenIQ said on Tuesday.

Consumer goods-makers in the world's fifth-largest economy have been struggling with sluggish demand, especially in the hinterlands, as higher prices of essentials including milk and tomatoes have forced people to cut back spending on non-essentials.

Sales volumes for fast-moving consumer goods rose 6.5% in the March quarter from a year earlier, NielsenIQ said, quickening from a 6% growth in the previous quarter.

Sales rose 7.6% in rural India, boosted by the personal and home care categories, against a 5.8% growth in the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, urban sales growth slowed to 5.7% from 6.9% in the previous quarter, as consumer goods makers struggled with rising competition.

Sales in the non-food segment rose at double the pace compared with the food segment, NielsenIQ said.

Consumer goods majors including Nestle India NEST.NS and Dabur DABU.NS have posted strong results for the March quarter as demand for products such as biscuits buoyed their bottom-lines.

Indian consumer giant Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS said a rural recovery has started while Marico MRCO.NS said a demand recovery is underway even as the companies missed fourth-quarter profit estimates.

"Post-election, post-monsoon, we would be aiming towards a double-digit volume growth for sure. I think the first quarter is flattish," Varun Berry, managing director of Britannia BRIT.NS said in a post-earnings call.

The consumer goods maker expects the demand environment to be "slightly inflationary" after the national elections which end in early June.

India anticipates an above-normal monsoon in June, which could aid rural income.

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto and Varun Hebbalalu in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)

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May 6 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• MARICO LTD - CONSOLIDATED REVENUE GROWTH EXPECTED TO TREND UPWARDS DURING THE COURSE OF FY25

• MARICO LTD - AIM TO DELIVER HEALTHY REVENUE-LED EARNINGS GROWTH IN FY25

• MARICO LTD - WE AIM TO GROW FOODS AT 20%+ CAGR AND SCALE TO 2X OF ITS CURRENT SCALE IN FY27

• MARICO LTD - EXPECT DOMESTIC REVENUE SHARE OF FOODS, PREMIUM PERSONAL CARE PORTFOLIOS TO EXPAND FROM ABOUT 20% CURRENTLY TO ABOUT 25% BY FY27

• MARICO LTD - AIM TO MOVE TOWARDS DOUBLE-DIGIT EBITDA MARGIN NEXT YEAR

• MARICO LTD - DOMESTIC REVENUE GROWTH TO OUTPACE VOLUME GROWTH FROM Q1FY25

• MARICO LTD - AIM TO MAINTAIN DOUBLE-DIGIT CONSTANT CURRENCY GROWTH MOMENTUM IN FY25 AND BEYOND

• MARICO LTD - EXPECT GRADUAL UPTICK IN GROWTH OF OUR CORE CATEGORIES

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

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Adds CFO comment from media call, background

By Ashna Teresa Britto and Praveen Paramasivam

BENGALURU/CHENNAI, April 24 (Reuters) - Hindustan Unilever HLL.NS, the Indian arm of UK's Unilever ULVR.L, posted a bigger-than-expected fall in quarterly profit on Wednesday, but indicated signs of a much-anticipated sales recovery in rural areas.

Branded consumer goods giants have struggled to drive sales in Indian villages over the last several quarters due to persistently high inflation and, more recently, as competition from local labels strengthened due to easing commodity costs.

Lower prices of select raw materials have also allowed a few of Hindustan Unilever's brands as well as that of peers such as Saffola-owner Marico MRCO.NS to cut prices and stay competitive.

"(Rural) recovery has started to happen already," said Ritesh Tiwari, chief financial officer, Hindustan Unilever. "With a good monsoon outlook that we have got ... and improving macro, we should see the recovery to continue and further accelerate."

The upbeat comments came even as analysts have maintained that a recovery in rural demand would come to fruition only in the second half of the financial year, beginning October.

However, Hindustan Unilever's financials remained under pressure in the March quarter.

Hindustan Unilever said its profit fell nearly 6% to 24.06 billion rupees ($288.9 million), missing estimates of 24.44 billion rupees, according to LSEG. Sales rose marginally to 146.93 billion rupees, with revenue in a key business, beauty and personal care, declining 2.7%.

Shares in Hindustan Unilever declined 15% in the March quarter, against the roughly 5% drop in the Nifty consumer goods index .NIFTYFMCG.

Separately, Hindustan Unilever, which does not sell baby food but houses Horlicks with which it targets children, said its "mindfully crafted" portfolio complies with the strictest standards in India.

Peer Nestle India NEST.NS came under fire earlier this month on media reports that its Swiss parent allegedly used high levels of sugar in baby foods in developing countries.

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru and Praveen Paramasivam in Chennai; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Ravi Prakash Kumar)

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April 5 (Reuters) - Marico Ltd MRCO.NS:

• MARICO LTD - EXPECT CONSOLIDATED REVENUE GROWTH TO TREND UPWARDS IN QUARTERS AHEAD

• MARICO LTD - DURING QUARTER, FMCG DEMAND SENTIMENT STAYED CONSISTENT

• MARICO LTD - DURING Q4, FMCG DEMAND SENTIMENT STAYED CONSISTENT VIS-À-VIS PRECEDING QUARTERS

• MARICO LTD- CONSOLIDATED REVENUE GREW IN LOW SINGLE DIGITS IN Q4

• MARICO LTD - EXPECT CONSOLIDATED REVENUE GROWTH TO TREND UPWARDS IN QUARTERS AHEAD

• MARICO LTD - SEES DOMESTIC REVENUE GROWTH OUTPACING VOLUME GROWTH IN QUARTERS AHEAD

• MARICO LTD - MAINTAINS ASPIRATION OF DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE, PROFITABLE VOLUME-LED GROWTH OVER MEDIUM TERM

• MARICO LTD - WE EXPECT LOW DOUBLE-DIGIT OPERATING PROFIT GROWTH ON BACK OF A HEALTHY EXPANSION IN OPERATING MARGIN

• MARICO LTD - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REVERTED TO CLOCKING DOUBLE-DIGIT CONSTANT CURRENCY GROWTH IN THE QUARTER

• MARICO LTD - EXPECT STRONG GROSS MARGIN EXPANSION ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR BASIS IN Q4

• MARICO LTD - STAYING ON TRACK TO DELIVER ON MARGIN GUIDANCE FOR FULL YEAR

Source text for Eikon: [ID:]

Further company coverage: MRCO.NS

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