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Business Upturn
20-06-2025
- Health
- Business Upturn
Illegal Mosquito Incense Sticks Spark Concern in Western India: Good Knight Survey
67% of West Indian residents feel uneasy using unregulated mosquito products, highlights growing health risk. By Riddhima Jain Published on June 20, 2025, 16:57 IST Last updated June 20, 2025, 17:00 IST A recent survey by Good Knight, a leading household insecticide brand from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL), has revealed growing unease among residents of Western India regarding the use of illegal mosquito repellent incense sticks. The study, titled 'One Mosquito, Countless Threats,' was conducted by market research firm YouGov and shows that 67% of people in the region feel uncomfortable or irritated when using such unregulated products. The report further highlights that 60% of respondents in the western region—which includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh—are highly selective about the mosquito repellents they use, emphasizing a strong preference for government-approved, safe products. In fact, 75% of West Indian consumers opt for officially approved repellents, despite the growing presence of illegal alternatives. Nationally, 69% of respondents shared similar discomfort, with East India leading the concern at 73%. The report also shows that both men (70%) and women (67%) are nearly equally disturbed by these products, which often contain unregistered Chinese chemicals. The illegal mosquito incense stick market is rapidly growing, currently valued at ₹320 crore in Western India alone, out of a national market size of ₹1600 crore, and is expanding by 20% annually. Maharashtra is reportedly the largest market for these illegal products in the region, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Speaking on the findings, Shilpa Suresh, Head of Marketing – Home Care at GCPL, said, 'Many of these incense sticks are illegally manufactured and pose serious health risks. Good Knight remains committed to offering science-backed, safe, and government-approved mosquito solutions for Indian homes.' Echoing these concerns, Jayant Deshpande, Honorary Secretary of the Home Insects Control Association (HICA), called the use of illegal mosquito incense sticks 'a silent killer entering homes.' He urged citizens to check for CIBRC registration numbers on repellent packaging to ensure safety and authenticity. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
FMCG companies fear West Asia unrest may drive up input prices
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Companies making packaged foods and beverages, detergent and paint said the ongoing West Asian conflict may drive up crude oil prices again and potentially hurt demand further, just as input costs had started to stabilise."Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could pose short-term headwinds, by driving up crude oil prices," said Krishna Khatwani, head of sales, Godrej Consumer Products , which makes Cinthol soap and GoodKnight mosquito repellent. "This may drive up the prices of the overall purchase basket and pinch consumers."Conflict has broken out at a time when consumer goods companies had started to indicate early signs of demand picking up after five quarters, buoyed by interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), tax benefits introduced in the budget and the early onset of the monsoon."Disruptions to the Middle East's energy infrastructure could trigger a significant supply shock, driving up crude oil prices," said Angelo George, chief executive of packaged water company Bisleri International. "This may lead to a medium-term escalation in the cost of crude-based packaging materials-posing a challenge for companies heavily reliant on plastics."Two weeks back, Bisleri had announced a strategic partnership with Dubai retail chain Apparel Group to manufacture, market and distribute the Indian company's products in West Asia and Africa, beginning with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).While companies hedge and engage in forward buying for at least six months, any disruptions in crude could derail the relief companies were expecting after a protracted slowdown, especially in urban markets, executives said. Dabur is closely watching the geopolitical situation in West Asia, said Mohit Malhotra, chief executive at the maker of Real juices."With retail food inflation cooling to a seven-month low and the forecast of a good monsoon this year, coupled with the fiscal stimulus measures announced by the government recently, the industry was hopeful that FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) demand would bounce back in the second half of the year," he said.A few weeks back, producers of daily essentials had halted price hikes after three consecutive quarters of increases on the back of prices of commodities such as palm oil and wheat stabilising. The prices of groceries had risen 5-20% amid surging raw material and packaging costs. Researcher NielsenIQ had said in its January-March quarter update that the FMCG industry grew 11% year on year by value, driven by a 5.6% price derivatives contribute to 20-25% of makers of foods and about 40% for paint companies. These are widely used in the FMCG sector , as direct raw material in products such as paints and detergents and in the material used for packaging foods and beverages among others. After falling to its lowest prices in three years, Brent crude-the main international benchmark-is now at $75, over 15% higher than last past few quarters have seen inflation-impacted consumers either downtrading to buy lower-priced products or cutting back on discretionary spending, hurting demand.
Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India Inc's climate response: How top companies are safeguarding staff, operations from extreme weather
ANI Representational image As freak weather events become the new normal- —from heavy rains lashing Bengaluru and Pune to Delhi-NCR's 'feels like' 50°C heat—corporate India is moving swiftly to safeguard its workforce and minimise manufacturing and operational disruptions. Companies like Godrej Consumer Products, ITC, Dabur, CEAT, Raychem RPG, Vedanta and KPMG are rolling out multiple initiatives to adapt to unforeseen climate shifts- —from redesigning infrastructure to revising work schedules. At Godrej Consumer, for instance, new factory sites are being constructed with their finished floor levels elevated above the highest flood levels recorded in the past 50 years. 'This will help reduce the risk of operational disruptions due to flooding,' said Saurabh Jhawar, product supply organisation head for India and Saarc at the maker of Cinthol talc and GoodKnight conglomerate ITC and energy and electric infrastructure solutions provider Raychem RPG have restricted outdoor working hours to beat the heat. Raychem RPG—an equal joint venture between RPG Enterprises and TE Connectivity of the US that employs 2,889 blue-collar workers and 835 white-collar staff—has instructed all employees and contractor staff to not work in the open area between 12 pm to 4 pm, added buttermilk to its menu, and deployed AC buses for commuting workers, a company spokesperson said. Strategic Safeguards ITC has installed extra water coolers and conducts regular awareness sessions led by company doctors. 'The measures put in place depend on the geographic location of the unit, nature of work and are aligned to the requirements of employees,' a company spokesperson said. Tyre manufacturer CEAT has introduced a car policy for long-distance commutes of field staff in intense heat, chill, or heavy rains. It is conducting awareness sessions and putting strategic safeguards in place, a company spokesperson goods maker Dabur has equipped its factories with Turbo-vents, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, desert coolers, door curtains, thermal insulation on windows, and puff panels, its executive director-HR Biplab Bakshi resources and technology conglomerate Vedanta is distributing hydration products to each employee in high-heat zones like potlines, underground mines, and power plants this summer season. 'We have rolled out a comprehensive summer wellbeing programme focused on both employees and their families,' said Madhu Srivastava, chief HR officer of Vedanta Ltd. These include summer camps for children of its close to 50,000 employees, including white-collar and blue-collar workers, she said. At professional services firm KPMG, employees can avail work-from-home options in case of extreme weather conditions if the work permits, a spokesperson said. After being caught off guard by some extreme weather conditions like flash floods and last year's record high temperatures, companies across industries are taking precautions to protect their employees and infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable localities, and to ensure minimum disruptions in logistics and other operations. 'As climate patterns shift, we continue to invest in solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency, and sustainability in our operations,' Jhawar of Godrej said. 'To mitigate the impact of high temperatures, our factories are equipped with roof insulation, HVLS fans, and spot cooling systems.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India Inc's climate response: How top companies are safeguarding staff, operations from extreme weather
As freak weather events become the new normal- —from heavy rains lashing Bengaluru and Pune to Delhi-NCR's 'feels like' 50°C heat—corporate India is moving swiftly to safeguard its workforce and minimise manufacturing and operational disruptions. Companies like Godrej Consumer Products , ITC , Dabur , CEAT , Raychem RPG, Vedanta and KPMG are rolling out multiple initiatives to adapt to unforeseen climate shifts- —from redesigning infrastructure to revising work schedules. At Godrej Consumer, for instance, new factory sites are being constructed with their finished floor levels elevated above the highest flood levels recorded in the past 50 years. 'This will help reduce the risk of operational disruptions due to flooding,' said Saurabh Jhawar, product supply organisation head for India and Saarc at the maker of Cinthol talc and GoodKnight repellent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Diversified conglomerate ITC and energy and electric infrastructure solutions provider Raychem RPG have restricted outdoor working hours to beat the heat. Raychem RPG—an equal joint venture between RPG Enterprises and TE Connectivity of the US that employs 2,889 blue-collar workers and 835 white-collar staff—has instructed all employees and contractor staff to not work in the open area between 12 pm to 4 pm, added buttermilk to its menu, and deployed AC buses for commuting workers, a company spokesperson said. Live Events Strategic Safeguards ITC has installed extra water coolers and conducts regular awareness sessions led by company doctors. 'The measures put in place depend on the geographic location of the unit, nature of work and are aligned to the requirements of employees,' a company spokesperson said. Tyre manufacturer CEAT has introduced a car policy for long-distance commutes of field staff in intense heat, chill, or heavy rains. It is conducting awareness sessions and putting strategic safeguards in place, a company spokesperson said. Consumer goods maker Dabur has equipped its factories with Turbo-vents, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, desert coolers, door curtains, thermal insulation on windows, and puff panels, its executive director-HR Biplab Bakshi said. Natural resources and technology conglomerate Vedanta is distributing hydration products to each employee in high-heat zones like potlines, underground mines, and power plants this summer season. 'We have rolled out a comprehensive summer wellbeing programme focused on both employees and their families,' said Madhu Srivastava, chief HR officer of Vedanta Ltd. These include summer camps for children of its close to 50,000 employees, including white-collar and blue-collar workers, she said. At professional services firm KPMG, employees can avail work-from-home options in case of extreme weather conditions if the work permits, a spokesperson said. After being caught off guard by some extreme weather conditions like flash floods and last year's record high temperatures, companies across industries are taking precautions to protect their employees and infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable localities, and to ensure minimum disruptions in logistics and other operations. 'As climate patterns shift, we continue to invest in solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency, and sustainability in our operations,' Jhawar of Godrej said. 'To mitigate the impact of high temperatures, our factories are equipped with roof insulation, HVLS fans, and spot cooling systems.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
We need to move a lot faster in this slow market, says Godrej Consumer Products chairperson Nisaba Godrej
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Mumbai: Godrej Consumer Products chairperson Nisaba Godrej said the company's performance in FY25 was below expectations and doesn't feel "wildly successful".The maker of GoodKnight mosquito repellent and Cinthol soaps reported a 4% increase in volume sales during the March quarter compared with a 5% growth in the fast moving consumer goods market, according to however, said it outpaced the market growth of 4% over a two-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) with a 6% growth in 2024-25."We had some googlies from the external environment, including palm and other costs, and we have seen sort of (slow) volume growth in FMCG," Godrej said during the company's annual investors meet last week. "We also dropped a few of our own balls in categories like household insecticides and deodorants, which hopefully, I think, we have owned some gaps and you will see some better, stronger performance in quarter one. We have learned in this slow market that we need to just move a lot faster."For FY26, on an overall basis, the company has guided for high single-digit revenue and double-digit Ebitda growth. The company said factors such as lower food inflation, income tax reduction and government's welfare schemes will help sales growth over the next 12-18 months."The last five years post Covid is a case where the top 20% has been doing really well and the bottom 80%, whether it's urban or rural, hasn't. There are a few things that might reverse. Food price inflation has come down in the last 2-3 months, income tax relief that should come this month onwards, so almost a lakh crore being released into consumption," said Sudhir Sitapati, managing director at Godrej Consumer Products, adding that pay commission due early next year will also help since it has historically boosted demand in the said it will invest about '700 crore to bolster existing factories as well as open a new manufacturing plant in Indonesia in the next two company expects soaps' volume to grow 2% and household insecticides portfolio to grow at 6-8%. In the past few years, the company entered the deodorants segment through the acquisition of Park Avenue and Kamasutra, expanded its organic play in the fast-growing liquid detergent segment with Godrej Fab and tapped into the growing pet food market through a new subsidiary, Godrej Pet Care, which recently launched pet food brand company said these categories have a multi-decadal growth runway with lower per capita consumption compared to other markets it operates in. For instance, spending per capita in Indonesia is three times higher in deodorants and seven times higher in perfumes compared to India.
