Consumer goods firms and auto companies are witnessing an upturn in rural demand, which had been lagging for most of FY24. Expectations of a bumper rabi crop harvest have helped turn the tide. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Monetary Policy Committee kept the repo rate unchanged last week, noting that as rural demand catches up, consumption is expected to support economic growth in 2024-25.
Talks on with P&G, HUL, Patanjali, among others to push their products via 250,000 common centres
Sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) witnessed significant recovery in September after enduring a double-digit decline in August, according to data furnished by Bizom. Kirana stores in rural areas stocked up in preparation for the festival season, which began in September. This, combined with rainfall reaching 113 per cent of the long-perid average for the month, contributed to a boost in sales.
There has been an uptick in interest in the FMCG sector after a long time and results were pretty good this quarter.
FMCG sector analysts say that due to excise free zones, impact of the excise duty hike will be limited, except for Hindustan Lever. The sector wants impetus for rural income generation and no hike in service tax.
If excise duties are revised upwards, it will affect the FMCG sector, which is witnessing sequential rise in its input costs.
Enthused by robust financial performance and attractive valuations, foreign investors increased their exposure to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies such as Britannia, Hindustan Unilever and Godrej Consumers Products in April-June this year.
Indian fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) players are once again on the prowl to acquire companies, as the economy picks up.
Salaries are performance-linked and FY12 was good on both counts; now, persistent inflation and patchy rains show on rural market.
'Investors should consider small and midcaps only if they can handle volatility and have a longer investment horizon.'
The biggest headwind to the consumption story in FY23 is a sharp decline in government subsidies on food, fertiliser and fuel, and overall decline in revenue expenditure net of interest payments. This, analysts say, will adversely impact purchasing power of households at the lower end of the income pyramid, translating into lower spending on consumer goods and services.
With a gradual rise in temperature and the start of heatwave, FMCG and dairy firms selling cola-based fizz drinks, juices, mineral water, ice creams and milk-based beverages expect a spike in sales and have ramped up their production and stocks to meet the anticipated consumer demand. The makers are launching new products keeping in mind the evolving consumer preferences and also investing substantially on promotions and expansion of the channels this season, company executives of beverage and ice cream makers said. Beverages major PepsiCo said summer months are naturally the most favourable season for its category and it is "optimistic" that its portfolio of brands will continue to delight consumers during the period.
Exemptions on the personal income tax would increase the income in the hands of the consumers, thereby increasing spending.
'While every year presents new challenges, it also provides opportunities for better growth and performance.'
Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC, is looking to expand the conglomerate's play outside India by taking "strategic positions" in markets close to home in the non-cigarette fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and hospitality businesses. In a recent conversation with Business Standard, Puri revealed that ITC is setting sights beyond India's borders. "We already export to 100-odd countries. We want to scale that up and take some strategic positions in markets close to us," he said.
'Although currently, urban areas contribute more to growth than rural, there is no reason why rural areas should not contribute.'
FMCG stocks have underperformed the market, falling 2.2 per cent so far in 2014.
ITC Limited is planning to aggressively scale up its FMCG business and expand the portfolio by staging an entry into the home and personal care market, in an attempt to be the leading FMCG player in the country.
Among the Sensex firms, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints, ITC and Nestle were the major gainers. Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and Power Grid were among the laggards.
Among Sensex shares, Bajaj Finserve, ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, Sun Pharma, Maruti Suzuki, ITC, and Nestle were the lead gainers. On the other hand, L&T Wipro, IndusInd Bank and TCS and Tata Motors were the lead losers.
Among the Sensex firms, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, Nestle, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finance, Maruti and HDFC Bank were the major laggards.
'Bilateral trade has suffered seriously because of the growing unrest.' 'There is a standstill on both sides amid the curfew.'
A major reason for the high growth in advertising spends as these companies are keen on higher volume
Mutual fund equity schemes which only invest in sectors such as banks and fast moving consumer products (FMCG) have emerged top performers across product categories in 2012. But these schemes face stiff challenges to repeat such outperformance in 2013.
According to Nielsen, rural growth has plunged to a low 5 per cent in the third quarter of quarter from a high 20 per cent a year ago. This has for the first time in seven years rural growth has fallen below urban levels.
FMCG analyst at SSKI Nikhil Vora believes that the next round of growth for the FMCG sector will get powered by a lot of front-ended investment by companies.
Players like UltraTech Cement more expensive than ITC and HUL; others catching up fast.
FMCG major Britannia Industries' results for the January-March quarter (Q4) of the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) were received enthusiastically by the market with the share going up by 6.7 per cent on Monday to close at Rs 5,061.60 on the BSE. However, analysts said the results were in line with margins, and disappointing in terms of revenue growth. The consolidated net sales (excluding other operating income) rose 3 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 4,010 crore in Q4.
Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday said it has approved the demerger of the hotel business of diversified entity ITC Ltd into a separate entity. After the completion of the demerger, shares of ITC Hotels Ltd, a new entity, will be listed on the stock exchanges. The proposed combination relates to the demerger of the demerged undertaking to ITC's wholly-owned newly incorporated subsidiary, ITC Hotels.
For the quarter ended June, most FMCG companies reported growth of 15-20 per cent in revenue, as demand for daily-use items continued to be high.
Ravi Shankar mulls taking his products, available at 600 outlets, to 2,500 stores by 2017; others have plans, too.
West Bengal is home to 43,000 Durga Pujas, and the business around it is a major economic driver.
'We expect market consolidation and recommend buying during market dips.'
Discount retailer DMart (Avenue Supermarts) hit its highest levels in a year and a half last week and is up over 11 per cent in the last one month. The company depends on low operating costs to offer the lowest prices to consumers, which enables sales velocity and scale, further reducing costs. This virtuous feedback loop has helped DMart gain market share in a sector dominated by unorganised stores.
