Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, the consumer durables arm of Wipro, will invest R100 crore over the next one year to ramp up its production capacities across China, Vietnam and India. The expansion will include addition of lines for all product categories including personal care products and lights.
China, and Vietnam have been some of the fastest growing geographies for WCCLG?s international brands, necessitating a rapid scale up in supply.
?In China, we have grown 28% in FY12 and Vietnam has also recorded high double digit revenue growth rates, which is why we must have grow capacities there. We will add production lines in deodorants, lotions and shampoos under our toiletries brands Enchanteur and Unza,? Vineet Agarwal, president of WCCLG told FE.
?We will be ramping up India as well for deodorants, soaps and light bulbs. Overall, we are planning a R100 crore investment in FY13,?he added. In September 2011, the company had undertaken an expansion of its soap plants in Haridwar and Tumkur, adding 25% to its manufacturing muscle in these locations. Driven by a surge in demand from emerging markets, as well as growth in domestic brands such as Santoor soaps, revenues of WCCLG was up 25% year-on-year, to R907 crrore for the quarter ended March 2012. Operating margins were at 12.5%, while EBIT increased 30% to R113 crore.
?In FY12, our growth had been completely organic. Our re-launches have worked well. Santoor is now a R1000 crore brand, and for this full year, it has grown by 14% in volumes. We have become top player in West and South of India for soaps with 13.9% market share. Yardley has done well, with a 60% YoY growth. Enchanteur has also crossed $100 million,? Agarwal said. Earlier this fiscal, WCCLG had rebranded several of its products, including Santoor, Wipro honey, Glucovita ? Wipro?s energy drink, its CFL lights range, and some products under Unza.