Brands
Gillette India Q1 profit rises 9 per cent despite softer quarterly revenue
Profit reaches Rs 159 crore as grooming business continues to anchor growth
MUMBAI: Gillette India has proved that a close shave can still leave room for healthy profits. The personal care company reported higher first-quarter earnings despite a marginal dip in revenue, as disciplined cost management and resilient demand in its core grooming business supported profitability.
For the quarter ended 30 June 2026, revenue from operations stood at Rs 783.02 crore, down 1.6 per cent from Rs 706.72 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Including other income of Rs 5.22 crore, total income came in at Rs 788.24 crore, compared with Rs 713.40 crore a year earlier.
The company reported profit before tax of Rs 214.02 crore, an increase of 9.5 per cent from Rs 195.43 crore in the year-ago quarter.
After providing Rs 54.57 crore towards taxes, net profit rose 9.4 per cent to Rs 159.45 crore, compared with Rs 145.69 crore in the first quarter of FY26.
Total comprehensive income stood at Rs 160.70 crore, up from Rs 144.52 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, helped by gains in other comprehensive income.
While revenue remained broadly stable, operating costs increased alongside business activity. Total expenses rose to Rs 574.22 crore from Rs 517.97 crore a year earlier.
The company spent Rs 187.70 crore on raw materials, up from Rs 176.97 crore a year ago, while advertising and sales promotion expenses declined sharply to Rs 103.32 crore from Rs 136.37 crore, indicating a more measured marketing spend during the quarter.
Employee benefit expenses increased to Rs 61.17 crore from Rs 48.89 crore, while other expenses edged up to Rs 97.40 crore, compared with Rs 95.17 crore in the corresponding period last year.
The grooming business remained the company’s largest contributor, generating Rs 628.65 crore in revenue, while the oral care segment contributed Rs 154.37 crore. Segment profit before finance costs and tax stood at Rs 173.45 crore for grooming and Rs 37.71 crore for oral care.
Reflecting the stronger earnings performance, basic and diluted earnings per share improved to Rs 48.93, compared with Rs 44.71 in the year-ago quarter.
Although quarterly revenue was largely unchanged, Gillette India’s results underline the resilience of its premium personal care portfolio. Strong profitability, disciplined spending and continued strength in its grooming franchise enabled the company to deliver higher earnings, even as it navigated a softer demand environment.
