Brands
RB expands its e-commerce product portfolio in India
MUMBAI: Reckitt Benckiser has expanded its e-commerce product portfolio by introducing Calgon 3-in-1 power gel water softener for washing machines and Airwick car fresheners to the Indian market. Calgon has been trusted to protect washing machines from limescale and dirt build-up for over 50 years. It is the only water softener recommended by global leading washing machine manufacturers like Bosch, Siemens and Whirlpool. With Airwick car fresheners, RB is marking its entry in the car freshener category for the first time.
Findings show that hard water is prevalent in multiple parts of the country, leading to formation of lime scale in household equipment including washing machines resulting in long term damage of the machine. Calgon works through the neutralization of the hard water mineral ions and creates a protective shield with every wash. It increases the lifespan of the washing machine. In addition, Calgon is safe to be used on all kinds of garments and prevents malodour in the machine; just one cap with every wash.
Airwick car fresheners are easy to use with a superior spill proof technology with 100% fragrance that lasts for upto 60 days giving the feeling of freshness with every drive. The product addresses the problem of malodour within the vehicle leaving the car smelling fresher and fragrant for longer.
Commenting on the launch, RB Hygiene Home, South Asia CMO & Marketing Director Sukhleen Aneja said, “As Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene Home, we are committed to bringing in superior – technologically advanced products to serve and add value to the growing consumer needs. E-commerce today allows us to test and incubate ideas before scaling them for the more traditional ‘Go to Market’ channels. With the introduction of Calgon and Airwick car fresheners, we are bringing products that are easy to use and address some key concerns that have been identified in our research.”
Growing at an annual rate of 31%, India is the fastest growing market for e-commerce in the world. E-commerce platforms have managed to build their own identity by providing solutions to the needs of Indian consumers. Both, Calgon and Airwick car fresheners are imported products and in their first phase will be sold exclusively on e-commerce platforms.
Calgon 3-in-1 power gel will be available in 750 ml pack at an introductory price of Rs 350. Airwick car fresheners will be available in two formats – vent clip and multi-surface clip, which will last upto 60 days and will be launched at an introductory price of Rs 199.
Brands
Dabur buys minority stake in Ras Beauty for Rs 60 crore
Dabur Ventures deal backs fast-growing luxury skincare brand
MUMBAI: Dabur India Limited has dipped into the world of luxury skincare, signing a definitive agreement to acquire a minority stake in Ras Beauty Private Limited for Rs 60 crore. The investment marks the first bet from Dabur Ventures, the FMCG major’s Rs 500 crore platform set up in October 2025 to back high-potential, new-age direct-to-consumer brands.
Founded in Raipur by Shubhika Jain, her sister Suramya Jain and their mother Sangeeta Jain, Ras Beauty has grown from a family-led passion project into a fast-scaling “Farm-to-Face” skincare label. Its range of face elixirs, serums and moisturisers blends essential oils with nature-derived actives, striking a balance between botanical purity and laboratory precision.
The numbers tell their own story. Ras has clocked a three-year Cagr of around 75 per cent and an annual run rate of approximately Rs 100 crore, all while maintaining strong gross margins. That growth has been fuelled by a digital-first approach, in-house R&D and manufacturing, and a sharp focus on clean, sustainable sourcing.
Dabur India executive director and group head corporate strategy Abhinav Dhall, said the company was drawn to Ras’s distinct positioning at the intersection of nature, science and luxury. He added that the premium beauty segment is poised for robust expansion over the coming decade, and that Ras is well placed to capture that opportunity.
For Ras, the partnership is as much about scale as it is about shared philosophy. Co-founder and CEO Shubhika Jain said Dabur’s 141-year legacy of building trusted, purpose-led brands makes it a natural ally. The capital infusion, she noted, will help accelerate the brand’s omnichannel footprint, deepen research capabilities and invest in team and brand building, with an eye on establishing Ras as a leading Indian luxury skincare name both domestically and overseas.
With this move, Dabur is not just investing in a skincare label. It is placing an early wager on India’s growing appetite for premium, conscious beauty, and signalling that heritage FMCG players are ready to play in the new-age D2C arena.
