A Sweeping Reform India's Hygiene Sector: The Journey of a Visionary Disposable Hygiene Entrepreneur
Ltd., is one such name. Hailing from Satna, a quiet town in Madhya Pradesh, Alok's journey coming from a middle-class family to becoming one of the biggest contract manufacturers of Hygiene Products in India is nothing short of extraordinary.
Birth of an Entrepreneur
Alok's father worked for the Birla group, managing the factory of Universal Cables in Satna, but Alok chose to carve his own path stand and create an independent business.
As a young man with big dreams Alok applied his business acumen in various fields before making a decision to move to Pune in the year 2002. The defining moment came during a visit to China with a close friend, where a sanitary napkin manufacturing machine struck the cord! He immediately arranged for the machine to be imported to India, laying the foundation for a venture that would reshape the hygiene industry.
Setting up the manufacturing facility close to New Delhi, the next challenge Alok faced was to find clients. With confidence and a 'never-say-never' attitude he approached everyone no matter how big or small. This determination won him a noteworthy breakthrough – he cracked a deal with Kimberly Clark USA (KCL). The multinational KCL hired Alok's Company as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) for its Feminine Hygiene brand '
Kotex
.'
This made Alok's company the first-ever OEM globally for KCL's Kotex in the Southeast Asian market — a landmark feat for an Indian entrepreneur.
From Women Hygiene to Baby Care
Following his success with Kotex, Alok's attention turned to baby care. In 2009, he struck another major deal — this time with
Hindustan Unilever (HUL)
for the popular baby diaper brand '
Huggies
.' By now, his reputation in the disposable hygiene segment was solid, but his ambitions were far from over.
When HUL and KCL parted ways in 2016, Alok saw it not as a setback, but as a fresh opportunity. With over a decade of industry experience, he had a deep understanding of products, the market, and supply chain. Alok had a vision for the Indian market - He knew what products to tap; it was just a question of executing his idea. That was the birth of Swara Baby Products!
Swara Baby Products: Built in Madhya Pradesh, Trusted Across the Globe
Returning to his roots in Central India, Alok pinned down Indore City to establish Swara's state-of-the-art manufacturing unit.
With global exposure and a visionary business acumen, he built an international-quality facility — a rare sight in any Indian industrial zone. The first product off the line was Baby Pull-Up Diapers, a segment that was booming. Alok's vision with Swara Baby Products Pvt. Ltd. is to be the first-choice contract manufacturers of hygiene products globally.
He has a reputation of stringent quality control and extreme attention to detail. This made Swara the preferred manufacturing partner for leading brands such as
Huggies, Amazon, Himalaya, and MotherCare, Reliance, Cipla, Patanjali
among many others. The real milestone came in 2019, when
Procter & Gamble (P&G)
— makers of
Pampers
— selected Swara as their
exclusive OEM partner.
To this day, Swara is the only third-party manufacturer P&G has worked with globally.
Diversification and Global Expansion
Not one to rest on his laurels, Alok tapped the adult hygiene segment in the same year, adding another layer to Swara's portfolio. Within a few years, Swara Baby Products became a one-stop OEM for baby care, feminine care, and adult care — manufacturing for almost all the major brands in India.
The next phase was global outreach.
With its MNC-level work culture, ethical sourcing, and world-class R&D, building relations with international clients was smooth. Swara attracted attention from Middle Eastern and African markets, bagging partnerships with global chains like Carrefour and Lulu.
Sustainability and Innovation: Tree-Free Diapers & BIS Certification
Innovation has always been the bedrock of Alok's philosophy. Through years of exposure, experience and the itch to learn, he along with his team of experts have developed some high performing, radical products. In 2024–25, Swara launched
India's first Tree-Free Diaper Technology
, cutting down the usage of
wood pulp in a diaper by 93%
producing a lightweight, garment-like baby diaper.
Adding to this achievement, Swara became the
first Indian company to receive BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
certification in the hygiene category — even
before multinational
giants operating in India. These milestones showcase the company's dedication to quality, compliance and sustainability.
Cricket, Community, and a Green Heart
Beyond business, Alok Birla is generous and passionate with a never-say-die attitude. A lifelong Cricket enthusiast, he has always been connected with the game in some way or another. In 2024, he got a great opportunity to be associated with
Madhya Pradesh Cricket League (MPL)
, a brainchild of
H.H. Yuvraj Mahanaaryaman Scindia Ji
. He owns a team called
Rewa Jaguars
in the State's Cricket League organized by GDCA extending his support in multiple ways to the Game as well as the State of MP.
Alok took his sports participation a notch higher when he proposed a
Green Initiative
powered by Rewa Jaguars. In 2025, Madhya Pradesh Cricket League (MPL) saw a
Green Initiative
powered by Team Rewa Jaguars sponsoring plantation of
10 trees for 1 dot ball
in the tournament. The result? A staggering
14,000
trees come alive across Madhya Pradesh — supporting the environment and rural farmers.
Alok Birla – A Role Model
Alok Birla's journey is a shining example of what a focused, resilient, and values-driven entrepreneur can achieve on a national and global level.
From humble beginnings to manufacturing for the world's biggest brands, he has remained rooted and driven.
Through Swara Baby Products, Alok has planted seeds of numerous projects uplifting and enlightening the people he joined hands with, assisted growth and progress of the hygiene industry, put his country on the global map and created socially responsible business models.
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a business enthusiast, or someone looking for inspiration — the story of Alok Birla and Swara Baby Products is bound to make you pause, reflect, and explore more.
Explore More:
www.swarababy.com
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
32 minutes ago
- Mint
Stock to buy: Anand Rathi predicts Apollo Micro Systems' share price to rise 25% in 3 months. Here's why
Stock to buy: Indian brokerage firm Anand Rathi Investment Services disclosed its bullish stance on Apollo Micro Systems shares, predicting a 25% upside in the upcoming three-month period. In the stock report, Anand Rathi analysts highlighted that the shares of the Aerospace and Defence equipment maker had undergone a 'significant correction' after peaking near the ₹ 221 levels. They also stated that the stock is now moving 'within its Ichimoku cloud,' aligning with the previous breakout zone. 'The stock is moving within its Ichimoku cloud, aligning with the previous breakout zone, while the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (DEMA) also corresponds closely to this area. Fibonacci retracement levels between 38.2% and 50% further indicate potential support, suggesting a base formation near the 165-175 range,' said the analysts at Anand Rathi. On the technical front, the shares' Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering over the 40 support mark, which likely indicates a potential stabilisation. 'Additionally, the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around the crucial 40 support mark, signalling possible stabilisation,' they said. Apollo Micro Systems Ltd (APOLLO): Buy in the range of ₹ 165-175; Target Price at ₹ 210; Stop Loss at ₹ 150 (on a daily closing basis). 'Given this technical setup, investors might consider buying or accumulating shares within the 165-175 zone. The upside target is projected at 210, while a stop-loss below 150 on a daily closing basis is recommended to manage risk. This outlook highlights key support and resistance levels that traders should monitor closely before making investment decisions,' recommended Jigar Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, in the stock report. Apollo Micro Systems shares closed 0.29% higher at ₹ 172.30 after Friday's stock market session, compared to ₹ 171.80 at the previous market close. The brokerage firm released its bullish stance on the company after market operating hours last week, on 25 July 2025. Shares of the Aerospace and Defence equipment maker have given stock market investors more than 1,280% returns on their investment in the last five years and over 39% gains in the last one-year period. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has jumped 40.87% in 2025 but are currently trading 4.7% lower in the last five market sessions on the Indian stock market. According to data collected from the BSE website, Apollo Micro Systems shares hit their 52-week high at ₹ 221.40 on 24 June 2025, while the 52-week low was at ₹ 88.10 on 23 October 2024. The shares are currently trading under their year-high levels. The company's market capitalisation (M-Cap) stood at ₹ 5,280.82 crore as of the stock market close on Friday, 27 July 2025. Read all stories by Anubhav Mukherjee Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
No Entry For GM Crops, Says New Delhi; India-US Trade Talks Hit A Sacred Wall
New Delhi: Genetically modified (GM) crops will not be crossing India's borders anytime soon, no matter how urgently the United States knocks. As trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington enter a crucial phase, insiders say one red line is not up for discussion. 'There are things that are not about negotiation. Some things are a matter of principle,' said a senior official close to the development. That principle, sources say, is GM corn and soy. While American negotiators have made agricultural access a central demand, pressing India for a wider entry gate for U.S. farm goods, New Delhi is not blinking, especially on GM imports. Over the years, the issue has mutated from a mere trade disagreement into a symbolic fight over sovereignty, food safety and grassroots politics. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has repeatedly flagged India's restrictions on GM products, calling them 'non-tariff barriers'. But Indian authorities remain unmoved, largely because of the hardline stance taken by domestic groups closely aligned with the ruling establishment. Last month, the message from Sangh affiliates was if America insists on forcing GM crops into the Indian market, there may be no trade deal at all. Carried in Business Standard, that warning echoed the sentiments of influential groups such as the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which have long opposed agricultural concessions to Washington, particularly in sectors like dairy and GM crops. Their argument? Food security. The BKS has often warned that allowing U.S. crops into India, especially without clear labelling or transparency, could sabotage domestic farming ecosystems and compromise health safety standards. On the other hand, the SJM sees this as a direct attack on economic self-reliance. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. U.S. officials have privately hinted at the urgency of the moment, pointing to a deadline set by President Donald Trump, who is seeking a revival of his trade agenda. Trump has marked August 1 as a red-letter day. If no interim deal is inked by then, India could be hit with reciprocal tariffs, potentially as high as 26 percent. Indian trade negotiators are not indifferent to that pressure. But according to officials involved in the process, the sixth round of talks will only happen in the second half of August after Trump's deadline expires. Any hope for a short-term resolution seems, at best, unrealistic. As one official put it, 'We are not looking at compromise in areas that touch the lives of millions.' In other words, GM corn is off the table. And perhaps, so is the deal, at least for now.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Lenskart receives shareholder nod to raise ₹2,150 crore via IPO: Report
Lenskart IPO: Peyush Bansal-led Indian eyewear company Lenskart has received the approval of its shareholder to raise ₹ 2,150 crore through a fresh issue of shares, reported MoneyControl, citing people aware of the development. According to news report, the company filed its corporate action development with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' (MCA) Registrar of Companies (RoC), as per the data accessed by TheKredible. The proposal to raise money via an IPO was reportedly given the green light at the company's annual general meeting on 26 July 2025, said the report, adding, the eyewear company is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the capital markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in the upcoming days. The overall IPO size is expected to be around $1 billion or ₹ 8,500 crore, which includes a secondary offer-for-sale (OFS) component by the existing investors, the report added. Earlier this month, Mint reported that the eyewear company's founder, Peyush Bansal, is looking to buy a 1.5-2% stake in the eyewear retailer worth about $150 million from existing investors ahead of its planned IPO. Peyush is buying small stakes from a bunch of investors. This is being negotiated at around $7-8 billion valuation. Existing investors like TR Capital, Chiratae, Softbank and Kedaara Capital are expected to sell their stake as part of the deal. Over the years, the company has raised $1.08 billion in funding across 19 rounds, including its latest Series I round for $18.2 million on 21 July 2023. It has received investments from various firms, including SoftBank Vision Fund, TPG, and Chiratae Ventures. Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and Avendus Capital are the company-appointed book-runners for the IPO, which is soon expected to hit Dalal Street. The company was founded in 2010, and since then, it has emerged as one of the biggest players in the Indian eyewear industry. It has 2500 retail outlets across the nation and a presence globally, such as in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
