Brands
Jyothy Labs launches fabric care and insecticide products
MUMBAI: Jyothy Labs, the Indian FMCG company, has expanded its product lineup with three new offerings across its fabric care and household insecticide categories, stepping up competition in these fiercely contested market segments.
The company has introduced Ujala Young & Fresh as the latest addition to its well-established Ujala fabric care range. The new product enters India’s competitive fabric care market, estimated at over Rs 20,000 crore, where Jyothy Labs has maintained a strong position despite intense rivalry from heavyweights such as Hindustan Unilever’s Surf Excel and Procter & Gamble’s Ariel. Ujala has historically dominated the fabric whitener segment while expanding into detergents in recent years.
In the household insecticide category, Jyothy Labs has launched two specialized variants of its Maxo Knockout Spray – one formulated specifically for mosquitoes and flies, and another targeting cockroaches. These products enter a market currently dominated by SC Johnson’s All Out and Reckitt Benckiser’s Mortein, with Godrej’s Hit brand also commanding significant market share. The household insecticide market in India has seen steady growth amid increasing health consciousness and vector-borne disease concerns.
The launches come as part of Jyothy Labs’ strategy to strengthen its presence in key household categories through product differentiation, as the company seeks to maintain its competitive edge in a sector where multinational corporations continue to increase their marketing investments.
The company, which also owns brands such as Margo, Exo, and Pril, aims to leverage its strong distribution network, particularly in rural areas, to challenge its larger competitors through targeted innovations in these essential household categories.
Brands
Nestlé India posts Rs 45,641 crore profit before tax in FY26
Strong cash flow of Rs 50,475 crore offsets higher costs, payouts.
MUMBAI: If there’s one thing brewing stronger than coffee this year, it’s Nestlé India’s balance sheet. The FMCG major closed FY26 with a solid financial performance, serving up steady growth even as costs and cash outflows kept the pressure simmering. For the year ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a profit before tax of Rs 45,641 crore, up from Rs 43,161 crore in the previous year. The numbers reflect resilience in core operations, supported by a strong consumption backbone across domestic and export markets.
Cash, meanwhile, was anything but idle. Nestlé India generated Rs 50,475 crore in net cash from operating activities, a sharp jump from Rs 29,345 crore last year highlighting robust underlying demand and improved working capital efficiency. Inventory reductions alone contributed Rs 2,809 crore, while trade payables rose by Rs 5,878 crore, adding further liquidity support.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On the investing side, the company deployed Rs 8,297 crore towards property, plant and equipment, even as overall investing cash outflow stood at Rs 6,236 crore. Financing activities saw a significant drain, with Rs 31,794 crore flowing out driven largely by dividend payouts of Rs 23,139 crore and repayment of short-term borrowings.
The balance sheet tells a story of expansion with caution. Total assets rose to Rs 1,31,824 crore from Rs 1,21,933 crore, while equity climbed to Rs 51,569 crore, reflecting improved reserves and retained earnings. Cash and cash equivalents surged to Rs 13,205 crore, a sharp rise from Rs 761 crore a year ago, underscoring stronger liquidity despite heavy outflows.
Operationally, depreciation and amortisation expenses increased to Rs 6,992 crore, while finance costs and provisions continued to shape the cost structure. At the same time, working capital movements especially in inventories and receivables played a key role in boosting cash generation.
The broader takeaway? Nestlé India’s FY26 performance is less about headline growth and more about financial muscle. With strong cash flows cushioning rising investments and payouts, the company appears to be balancing expansion with discipline keeping its books as carefully measured as its recipes.
