Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, a subsidiary of Azim Premji-led Wipro Enterprises, is confident that its brand Santoor will surpass Hindustan Unilever Limited’s (HUL) Lifebuoy as the market leader in the soap and personal care segment within the next year. Santoor has already expanded its product portfolio to include liquid hand wash, body lotion, and body wash, and has become a Rs 2,700-crore-plus brand. According to Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting CEO Vineet Agrawal, the company has already beaten HUL’s Lux brand and is poised to overtake Lifebuoy, which is also over Rs 2,000 crore.
Wipro has posted a 7.5% growth in FY25 despite challenges in the market, including low consumer sentiments and inflationary pressures. The company has scaled its presence in the FMCG segment through a series of acquisitions, including Chandrika, Yardley, Unza, and Canway. These acquisitions have performed well, with Chandrika growing from a small brand in Kerala to a significant player, Yardley increasing its value from Rs 18 crore to over Rs 300 crore, and Unza growing five times in Southeast Asia.
Agrawal attributes the success of these acquisitions to the company’s management strength and strategic decisions. Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting has a turnover of Rs 10,600 crore and is part of Wipro Enterprises, which is led by Azim Premji. The company’s confidence in Santoor’s ability to become the market leader is based on its strong brand portfolio and expansion into adjacent categories. While HUL did not respond to queries on the issue, Wipro is optimistic about its prospects in the FMCG segment.
The growth of Santoor and other Wipro brands is a testament to the company’s ability to adapt to changing market trends and consumer preferences. With its strong management team and strategic acquisitions, Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting is well-positioned to become a leading player in the FMCG segment. The company’s focus on expanding its product portfolio and entering new categories is expected to drive growth and help it achieve its goal of becoming the market leader in the soap and personal care segment.