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Informist, Thursday, Apr. 30, 2026

 

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--HUL: Improved price pack architecture in lifestyle foods to improve sales 
--CONTEXT: HUL mgmt comments in Q4 post earnings analyst call 
--HUL: Relaunched Horlicks in south India to boost Q4 sales 
--HUL:To expand lifestyle nutrition brand into ready to drink, protein drinks 
--HUL: Open to bolt-on acquisitions going ahead 
--HUL: Doubling down on Lux, focusing on premiumisation 
--HUL: Will continue to focus on growing chemist and cosmetics outlets 
--HUL: Will focus on democratising Ponds, Lakme pdt formats 
 

 

By Avishek Rakshit and Ruchira Kagita

 

KOLKATA/MUMBAI – India's largest pure-play consumer goods company Hindustan Unilever Ltd. is planning to democratise its leading skin care brands, such as Vaseline, Lakme and Ponds, by offering new products at convenient price points to drive sales in the coming months. 

 

As a growth strategy for the beauty and wellness business, which accounts for 22% of the company's top line, HUL has been testing the waters with some of its new-age products, which have low penetration and offer ample headroom to increase sales in the coming months. For instance, in the March quarter, HUL launched a sun gel under the Lakme brand at a price point of INR 10 and also introduced a sunscreen moisturiser tailored for Indian conditions – Vaseline Cloud Soft with SPF 50. 

 

HUL Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Priya Nair said that while the company continues to focus on premiumising the portfolio, it will also introduce accessible price points for products with low penetration to improve sales. Such a strategy, according to industry experts, not only increases sales volume but also introduces a brand or premium product to consumers and helps convert first-time users into customers who stick with the brand or product. 

 

"It's not just about more brands, it's about driving and democratising at scale, which only HUL can do given our scale and size," Nair told analysts at a post-earnings call Thursday. 

 

Apart from introducing such new products at affordable price points under the Vaseline brand, HUL is looking to expand this strategy to Ponds and Lakme brands going ahead. 

 

"... And then, we democratise it with pack price architecture. That's how the skincare category will grow. It's not just all about new brands, but it is certainly about many new formats, segments that will emerge in skincare," Nair said.

 

HUL is not only focused on improving the price pack architecture in its beauty and wellness business, but also extending the strategy to its lifestyle nutrition business housed under the foods division, which comprises 23% of sales. 

 

HUL also relaunched Horlicks in South India as Horlicks superfoods mix, aiming to improve sales, and extended the Horlicks brand to ready-to-drink and protein drinks. "That's a very new limited launch into the premium Q-Commerce (quick commerce) and modern trade channels. So very early start to the protein (category)," Executive Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Niranjan Gupta said. 

 

Apart from doubling down on the Horlicks biscuit brand, HUL is also doing the same with the Lux skincare brand to increase sales in the mass market. Nair said that HUL is open to pursuing bolt-on acquisitions and will continue to focus on expanding its presence in chemist and cosmetics outlets.

 

Thursday, shares of HUL closed 2.7% lower at INR 2,250.90 on the National Stock Exchange. Ends

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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