Leading FMCG companies across India are signaling a fresh round of price increases on daily essentials including soaps, detergents, biscuits, packaged foods, and beverages. The companies have already raised prices 3% to 5% and are now preparing further hikes to offset inflationary pressure from volatile crude oil prices, higher logistics costs, currency depreciation, and global supply chain disruptions.
Dabur India's CEO Mohit Malhotra said the company is facing 10% inflation this fiscal and has implemented a 4% price increase across its business, combined with cost rationalization initiatives. Britannia, the bakery and biscuits maker, is preparing selective price increases and grammage reductions to offset a nearly 20% rise in fuel and packaging costs. Its managing director Rakshit Hargave said the company will raise prices on packs above ₹10 while using grammage adjustment on smaller packs to retain popular SKUs priced at ₹5, ₹10, or ₹15.
HUL, which owns brands like Surf Excel and Lifebuoy, has seen 8% to 10% cost inflation on its material base and has taken price increases of 2% to 5% depending on the product category. Its CFO Niranjan Gupta said the company will continue to evaluate further pricing interventions as needed. Pidilite Industries, maker of Fevicol and Dr. Fixit, has already raised prices twice this year in April and May, citing a 40% to 50% weighted average surge in input costs.
In beverages, Varun Beverages' chairperson Ravi Jaipuria said companies have begun cutting discounts amid rising costs, with potential further action if fuel prices climb. Marico has taken price increases of 6% to 7% in its value-added hair oil portfolio, while Nestle India's chairman flagged ongoing volatility as a risk factor. Across sectors, companies are balancing margins through price hikes, grammage reduction, and cost efficiencies such as trimming discounts and tightening inventory management.