More Stories

Informist, Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

 

--Marico Mariwala: Tracking accelerating trend in organic, natural pdts

--CONTEXT: Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala speaks at Citi India Conference 2026

--Nestle Tiwary: Urban middle class may delay discretionary spending

--CONTEXT: Nestle India CMD Tiwary speaks at Citi India Conference 2026

 

By Rajesh Gajra and Anand JC

 

MUMBAI – The outlook for copra prices in 2026-27 (Apr-Mar) continues to be favourable for Marico Ltd. but prices will be dependent on how weather patterns and the monsoon in India impact copra production, Chairman Harsh Mariwala told Informist on the sidelines of Citi India Conference 2026 on Wednesday. "We will wait and see," he said on the movement in copra prices.

 

In a recent post-earnings conference call with analysts and investors, Marico's management had said that copra prices had recently fallen by 35% from peak levels and are expected to remain range-bound from here on. The company had passed on the benefits to consumers through some selective pricing actions in the coconut oil segment.

 

Speaking at the event, Mariwala addressed the changes that the fast moving consumer goods sector has had to adapt to in recent years. "Changes are coming even in consumer habits, especially after COVID-19 (pandemic)..things like natural, organic, all these have just accelerated the concerns for health," he said. Unlike before, when most changes in consumer behaviour were driven by trends set in Western countries, they are now also being influenced by Eastern countries such as South Korea.  

 

In recent years, Marico has used acquisitions as a key lever of growth in the direct-to-consumer space. "Until five years back, this (FMCG) was perceived to be the most defensive sector," Mariwala said. "You (FMCG industry) need a huge distribution infrastructure...we thought we were sitting very high, until the D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands started to come in."

 

The emergence of these brands is "naturally" a threat, but can also be seen as an opportunity, he said, adding that Marico has emerged as the most "acquisitive" company in the direct-to-consumer space.

 

Its acquisitions in the last few years include purchasing majority stakes in breakfast and snacks brand True Elements, skincare brand Skinetiq, premium popcorn and snacking brand 4700BC, wellness supplement brand Cosmix Wellness, plant-based nutrition brand Plix, ayurvedic beauty and skincare brand Just Herbs, and men's grooming brand Beardo.

 

"Most of our D2C investments have done well. Plix, when we acquired it was INR 200 crore (INR 2 billion in revenue), today it's doing INR 1,000 crore (INR 10 billion)," Mariwala told Informist. "Our aspiration is to be the largest D2C player in the country over the next two-three years," Mariwala said at the event.

 

Speaking at the event, Nestle India Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director Manish Tiwary said India's urban middle class has borne the brunt of the challenge due to inflation when it comes to discretionary spending. "That is where (India's urban middle class) the growth in real earnings has not kept pace," Tiwary said. The company expects consumers in this space to be in a "wait-and-watch" mode and wait out this trend "patiently".  End

 

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000 

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.