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How HUL’s Brands Fared In The Last Two Years

Two brands of India’s largest consumer goods maker entered the Rs 5,000-crore club in the year ending March.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Boxes of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal and Red Label teas, both manufactured by Hindustan Unilever Ltd., are displayed for sale at a general store in Mumbai. (Photographer: Vivek Prakash/Bloomberg)</p></div>
Boxes of Brooke Bond Taj Mahal and Red Label teas, both manufactured by Hindustan Unilever Ltd., are displayed for sale at a general store in Mumbai. (Photographer: Vivek Prakash/Bloomberg)

Two brands of India’s largest consumer goods maker entered the Rs 5,000-crore club in the year ending March—at a time the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and hurt demand.

Sales of Surf Excel detergent and Brooke Bond tea more than doubled to Rs 5,000 crore and above between FY19 and FY21, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. said at an analyst meet on Sept. 9.

India witnessed record spikes in Covid-19 infections last year, overwhelming its healthcare infrastructure. That forced central and state governments to impose national and state level lockdowns to stem the pandemic’s spread. As a result, economic activity slumped, hurting businesses.

Still, only one HUL brand, Lakme, contracted during the period as people worked from home and remained indoors, reducing the need for grooming. The make-up and skin care label slipped from Rs 1,000-crore to the Rs 500 crore and above segment in FY21.

On the other hand, HUL's Bru coffee and Kissan jam and sauces brands moved in the other direction, leapfrogging to the Rs 1,000-crore and more club in FY21. That was aided by in increase in at-home consumption as Indians hunkered down indoors during both the pandemic waves. Fabric softener Comfort entered the Rs 500-crore band.

After its acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd., HUL has two more brands in its kitty—both nutrition drinks. Boost falls in the Rs 500-crore bracket, while Horlicks is a Rs 2,000-crore brand.

Most of the consumer goods maker’s other labels in the personal care segment—Sunsilk, Pears, Vaseline, Close Up, Dove, Clinic Plus, Lux, Lifebuoy and Glow and Lovely—remained in the same revenue categories in the last two years.

Here’s a look at HUL’s names that bring in the money: