Brands
Colgate-Palmolive (India) Q3 brushes off rivals with Rs 1,452 crore sales
MUMBAI: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has reported a steady yet somewhat subdued financial performance for the third quarter and nine months ending 31 December 2024. In a world where Pepsodent, Sensodyne, and a slew of herbal toothpaste brands are fighting tooth and nail (quite literally) for consumer preference, Colgate remains the unshaken champion of oral care.
While macroeconomic headwinds and intensifying competition have made the landscape tougher than biting into a frozen chocolate bar, the company has managed to keep its shine by leveraging premiumisation and technology-driven consumer engagement strategies.
Can Colgate continue to outshine its rivals, or will Sensodyne’s sensitivity play and Pepsodent’s cavity-fighting pitch take a bite out of its market share? For now, Colgate is brushing aside the competition and keeping its growth streak minty fresh.
Headline figures
In Q3 FY25, net sales stood at Rs 1,45,221 lakh (Rs 1,452.21 crore), reflecting a 4.7 per cent year-on-year growth. Not the kind of jaw-dropping leap that makes investors do a double take, but hey, steady growth is better than a cavity-inducing decline! The domestic business, a key driver of performance, saw a 3.2 per cent growth in Q3 and an 8.8 per cent increase over the nine-month period—a testament to India’s undying love for minty-fresh breath and cavity-free smiles.
For the nine-month period, net sales reached Rs 4,54,718 lakh (Rs 4,547.18 crore), an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to Rs 4,16,352 lakh (Rs 4,163.52 crore) during the same period last year. That’s a growth curve any dentist would approve of! It also suggests Colgate still holds its ground in an ever-growing battlefield of oral care brands trying to take a bite out of its market share.
Gross margin and EBITDA margin improved sequentially compared to the last quarter, though they remain under pressure when measured against last year’s higher base. Net profit after tax (PAT) for Q3 FY25 stood at Rs 32,278 lakh (Rs 322.78 crore), a slight decline from Rs 33,011 lakh (Rs 330.11 crore) reported in Q3 FY24. Perhaps inflation took a bite out of those numbers?
However, the nine-month period gave Colgate something to grin about, with PAT increasing 14.6 per cent YoY to Rs 1,08,181 lakh (Rs 1,081.81 crore), up from Rs 94,384 lakh (Rs 943.84 crore) in the previous fiscal period. Looks like strategic premiumisation and efficiency initiatives are keeping things sparkling.
Profit before tax (PBT) for Q3 stood at Rs 39,505 lakh (Rs 395.05 crore), showing that operational efficiencies are still paying off. Meanwhile, basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) stood at Rs 11.87 for Q3 and Rs 39.77 for the nine-month period—numbers solid enough to keep shareholders smiling all the way to the bank!
Colgate-Palmolive’s MD & CEO Prabha Narasimhan acknowledged that the quarter was marked by soft urban demand and heightened competition. Despite these challenges, the company exhibited resilience, with mid-single-digit volume growth in its core toothpaste category and competitive gains in the toothbrush segment.
“While the near-term macro environment remains challenging, we are committed to driving growth through a strategy that works,” remarked Narasimhan, reiterating Colgate’s focus on premiumisation, digital engagement, and category expansion.
A highlight of the quarter was the launch of India’s largest oral health movement, a digital-first, AI-driven initiative that offers personalised AI-generated dental screening reports and free dental check-ups in partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA). Available in nine regional languages, this initiative aims to enhance oral health awareness at scale.
Furthermore, Colgate expanded its product portfolio with the “MaxFresh Sensorial” range, building on the success of the “Visible White Purple” series.
But let’s be honest—can even the best toothpaste keep everyone grinning when inflation is chomping away at disposable incomes? While the recent numbers show resilience, the question remains: can Colgate continue to take a big bite out of market share, or will rival brands leave it with a mere nibble?
For now, Colgate is holding its ground, refusing to be rinsed away by competition. With strong brand equity, a tech-savvy approach, and a strategy sharper than the bristles on a new toothbrush, Colgate is setting itself up to flash an even brighter smile in the quarters to come. Stick around—the next quarter’s numbers will tell the real story!
Brands
Mother’s Recipe launches Summerwala Sharbat range
Five nostalgic flavours priced at Rs 215 aim to tap summer refreshment demand.
MUMBAI: Call it a sip of summer nostalgia, Mother’s Recipe is bottling childhood memories and pouring them back into the present. The homegrown ethnic food brand has introduced its Summerwala Sharbat range, a five-flavour line-up designed to recreate the familiar tastes and rituals of Indian summers, while catering to modern consumption habits. The range features Mango Panna, Rose Syrup, Jeera Masala Syrup, Khus Syrup and Lemon Ginger Squash, each rooted in flavours that have long defined seasonal refreshment across Indian households. From the tang of raw mango to the cooling comfort of khus, the portfolio leans heavily into recall, not reinvention.
At a time when brands are increasingly leaning on nostalgia as a strategic lever, Mother’s Recipe is positioning Summerwala Sharbat as both a functional beverage and an emotional cue. The idea is simple: revive the small, everyday rituals post-play drinks, family gatherings, the clink of ice in a glass that once defined summer afternoons.
The products are packaged in 750 ml PET bottles and priced at Rs 215, targeting both routine household consumption and social occasions. Distribution spans leading e-commerce platforms as well as select offline retail outlets.
Mother’s Recipe executive director Sanjana Desai said the intent was to bring back flavours tied to “taste, routine and home”, while making them relevant for today’s consumers.
The move reflects a broader shift in the beverages market, where heritage-led storytelling and familiarity are increasingly being used to stand out in a crowded, innovation-heavy category.
With Summerwala Sharbat, Mother’s Recipe isn’t just selling a drink, it’s selling a season, one glass at a time.
