Colgate-Palmolive India Q1 profit rises 7 per cent as sales climb 12 per cent

Mumbai: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited has brushed aside market uncertainty with a strong start to FY27, reporting double-digit sales growth and higher profitability as premium products, improved margins and increased brand investments lifted its first-quarter performance.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the company reported net sales of Rs 1,591 crore, up 12 per cent from Rs 1,421 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Total income rose to Rs 1,626 crore from Rs 1,452 crore a year earlier.

Net profit increased to Rs 343 crore from Rs 321 crore in the year-ago period. Excluding exceptional items and one-off impacts, the company said adjusted net profit grew 11 per cent year on year.

Basic and diluted earnings per share rose to Rs 12.61 from Rs 11.79 in the corresponding quarter of FY26.

The oral care major continued to improve profitability during the quarter, with gross margins expanding by 110 basis points to 69.7 per cent. The company attributed the improvement to its “Funding the Growth” productivity programme and disciplined cost management.

Profit before tax stood at Rs 462.2 crore, compared with Rs 431.9 crore in the year-ago quarter. Profit before exceptional items and tax came in at Rs 465.5 crore.

The company recognised exceptional expenses of Rs 3.3 crore during the quarter, relating to severance and organisational restructuring.

Total expenses increased to Rs 1,160.6 crore from Rs 1,020 crore in the corresponding period last year, reflecting higher investments across the business.

Advertising and promotional spending rose sharply to Rs 251.9 crore from Rs 188.4 crore as the company stepped up brand-building initiatives. Employee benefit expenses stood at Rs 129.3 crore, while material costs were Rs 432.8 crore. Finance costs remained low at just Rs 1 crore.

The company said its toothpaste business delivered high single-digit volume growth during the quarter, supported by strong demand for premium products alongside steady performance in its core portfolio.

During the quarter, Colgate-Palmolive India expanded its premium portfolio with the launch of Colgate MaxFresh Berry Blast, featuring blue cooling crystals and Ultrafreeze technology designed to provide longer-lasting freshness.

It also introduced the Colgate Total Active Prevention Foaming Clean Toothbrush, equipped with more than 5,000 ultra-soft bristles and a dual-bristle design aimed at improving cleaning performance.

The company also rolled out a summer campaign promoting Colgate MaxFresh Peppermint Ice as its flagship seasonal offering.

Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited managing director and chief executive officer Prabha Narasimhan said the expansion in margins had enabled the company to reinvest more aggressively in brand building and premiumisation while continuing to strengthen its product portfolio.

Alongside its financial performance, the company released its fifth annual ESG report for FY26, outlining progress in areas including plastic waste reduction, water conservation, digital transformation and community outreach through its Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures programme.

Looking ahead, Colgate-Palmolive India said it remains focused on protecting margins through calibrated pricing strategies and continued efficiency measures, even as geopolitical uncertainty and commodity price volatility persist.

Backed by healthy sales growth, expanding margins and sustained investment in innovation, the company appears well placed to maintain its leadership in India’s oral care market through the remainder of FY27.