FMCG corporations Hindustan Unilever Ltd and Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) have cut prices of some soap manufacturers by up to 15 per cent amid palm oil and different raw supplies turning comparatively cheaper.
HUL has lowered prices of its choices below standard soap manufacturers Lifebuoy and Lux by 5 to 11 per cent within the western area. Godrej Group arm GCPL, which owns soap model Godrej No 1, has additionally lowered prices of soaps by 13 to 15 per cent.
Analysts opine that the discount in prices would assist drive development in volumes within the second half of present fiscal yr, particularly since general demand stays sluggish due to excessive inflation.
One of the explanations for the worth discount is the decline in world prices of palm oil and different raw supplies, they added. Commenting on the event, GCPL CFO Sameer Shah mentioned:” With commodity prices coming down, GCPL is one of the first FMCG companies to pass on the price reduction benefit to consumers.”
“For soaps specifically, GCPL has reduced prices between 13 to 15 per cent. We reduced the price of the bundle pack (five units of 100 gm each) of Godrej No.1 soap from Rs 140 to Rs 120,” he added.
An HUL spokesperson informed PTI:” For Lifebuoy and Lux, there has been a price drop in the West region,” he mentioned with out elaborating on the quantum of discount and whether or not comparable cuts shall be made in different areas additionally.
However, in accordance to reviews, prices of those soap manufacturers have been lowered by 5-11 per cent. The spokesperson nevertheless denied reviews about discount in prices of different manufacturers such as Surf, Rin, Wheel, and Dove.
Commenting on the worth cut by HUL, Edelweiss Financial Services Executive Vice President Abneesh Roy mentioned it’s a proactive step by the corporate to retain a market share in an period of falling raw material prices. “When raw material prices fall, regional players tend to come back.”
He expects this to drive quantity development for HUL in H2FY23 and FY24.
“In the past one year, volume growth for HUL was impacted due to grammage cuts and price hikes. Now the reverse is happening with grammage increase/price cuts,” Roy mentioned.
FMCG firms continued to face challenges of excessive retail inflation and slowdown in rural areas within the September quarter 2022. These firms had ramped up manufacturing of ”bridge packs” which might be priced between standard entry-level packs and massive packs.Â
