As the population of India grows, so does the demand for basic commodities like food, healthcare, personal hygiene products, etc. FMCG or Fast Moving Consumer Goods in India satisfy our country’s daily need for goods and services. These include food, household items, medicines, personal care, consumer electronics, etc. Products like these get sold very quickly and hence the name Fast-moving consumer goods. The goods produced by FMCG companies in India usually have a short shelf life as they are made for rapid consumption.
We depend on FMCG companies for products that are high in content, less expensive, and readily available. They play a significant role in our economy and touch every part of people’s lives. The companies that sell FMCG products always have an extensive distribution and a high inventory turnover. In our economy, FMCG companies are the fourth largest sector, and they create employment for more than three million people.
The top FMCG companies in India are:
1. Hindustan Unilever Limited
They are the leading FMCG company in India and have distributors across the perimeters of the country. The company was established in 1933 and has its headquarters in Mumbai. For 87 years, they have been serving 2 billion customers all these years. The parent company of Hindustan Unilever Limited is Unilever PLC, which is a world-famous supplier of FMCG products.
HUL (1) has more than 18000 employees, and its products are sold through over 2 million retail shops. They sell 35 commodities across 20 sectors which include brands like Brooke Bond, Bru, Knorr, Kwality Wall’s, Kissan, Surf Excel, Fair and Lovely, Axe, Lifebuoy, Pears, Lux, Sunsilk, Pepsodent and many more.
2. ITC Limited
This company was established in Kolkata in 1931 and has been one of the top FMCG companies in India for many years. ITC (2) was originally named Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited and was later changed to India Tobacco Company Limited. However today, ITC is no longer a short form and stands proud as a leading trademark name in India.
ITC sells 81% of the tobacco products in Asia including brands like Wills Navy Cut, Gold Flake Kings, Silk Cut, India Kings, Bristol, Gold Fake Super Star, Gold Flake Premium Lights, Classic Menthol, etc. Other products sold by ITC Limited include Aashirvad, Sunfeast, Fiama Di Wills, Vivel, Savlon Soap & Handwash, etc.
ITC Limited has always guaranteed a certain standard in their production and packaging. They have broad distribution channels India and their products are sure to reach the most rural areas through several retail shops. ITC has a turnover of 7 billion USD, and more than 29000 employees are working in the various divisions.
3. Colgate – Palmolive
It is an American consumer product company founded in 1806 in Midtown Manhattan, New York. Colgate – Palmolive (3) has frequently topped the list of the major FMCG companies in India. They have many subsidiary organizations across 200 countries and are the world leader in household and personal care products. The brand began as a starch, soap and candle factory in Dutch Street, New York City. They began selling the popular Colgate Toothpaste in 1873.
In 1928, a company named Palmolive-Peet acquired the Colgate company, and later the name Peet was dropped, and thus the signature name we see today was created. The leading brands possessed by Colgate – Palmolive are Ajax, Cibaca, Crystal White Octagon, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Murphy Oil Soap, Palmolive, etc. Their global cooperation and careful strategies have made them one of the most famous FMCG companies, not just in India but in the whole world.
4. Nestle
Nestle India (4) is one of the top FMCG companies in the country. It is a subsidiary of Nestle S.A, an international food and drink manufacturer based in Vaud, Switzerland. It was founded by Henri Nestle in 1860 by the merging of two independent Swiss businesses. Nestle has a top-notch production and packaging technology, and all its eight manufacturing units in India are ISO certified.
Nestle sells a plethora of products including beverages, bottled water, milkshakes, breakfast cereals, infant foods, performance, and health care nutrition, etc. A few of the 2000 brands they currently own are Nescafe, Maggi, Milky Bar, Kit Kat, Bar One, Nestle Milk etc. In 2016, they were rated 33 in Forbes list of largest public companies. They have around 3.3 lakh employees working for them and a turnover of 87 billion dollars.
5. Parle Agro
Parle Agro (5) is an Indian FMCG company established in 1984 in Mumbai. The parent company of Parle Agro is Parle which was launched in 1929. Parle was later split into three individual businesses, and the other two are Parle Products and Parle Bisleri. With over 76 highly innovative production units for FMCG in India, it has become the leading beverage company in the country. It is also the 4th biggest FMCG company in India.
Parle Agro owns various beverage brands including Frooti, Appy Fizz, Grappo Fizz, Bailey Soda and packaged drinking water, etc. They have a net worth of 2500 crores and a turnover of 1 billion dollars. Parle Agro has more than 2500 employees and 4000 channel partners.
6. Britannia
It is another famous FMCG company in India and the first Zero Trans Fat Business in the country. Britannia (6) was established in 1892 in Kolkata. They manufacture commodities for everyday use like cookies, bread, milk, etc. and have become a common name in every household. They have an extensive distribution network in India and 60 other countries.
Britannia has always kept true to the company’s motto ” Eat healthy. Think Better” with their nutrient-enriched products. They have earned a great place among the FMCG companies in India The top brands owned by Britannia are Marie Gold, Good Day, Milk Bikis, etc. Within the last five years, they witnessed a 1000 times increase in market value and is now India’s most prominent brand in the bread supply sector.
7. Marico
Marico (7) was established in 1990 in Mumbai and now has spread its business across 25 different countries. They maintain their innovation in manufacturing and packaging to preserve the tagline “Make a Difference”. It began as an FMCG brand for coconut and refined edible oil and later expanded into various kinds of consumer goods.
The numerous products traded by Marico are Parachute, Saffola, Livon, Revive, Nihar, etc. The company has a turnover of 59 billion INR and has been recognized as the 8th best workplace in India. Marico is now a leading FMCG company in India, catering to one-third of the Indian population.
8. Amul
Amul (8) was founded in 1946 as a cooperative dairy society with an aim to battle the exploitation faced by the villagers in Anand, Gujarat. They soon broadened their actions to other states in India and now administer to many countries in the world. Amul led the way for the White Revolution of India in 1970.
Amul is trusted and respected for the role they play in India’s legacy and economy, thus making them one of the top FMCG companies in India Amul sells different kinds of milk products, including fresh milk, bread spread, paneer, curd, cheese, milk powder, as well as chocolates and beverages.
9. Godrej
A prominent FMCG company in India, Godrej (9) supplies products across several categories like consumer products, appliances, security solutions, etc. It is owned by the Godrej family and has its headquarters in Mumbai. It was established in 1897 as a manufacturer of locks and safes. Now they make a plethora of consumer products which has been a source of sustainable development. Godrej has more than 1.1 billion customers all over the world.
10. Procter and Gamble
Commonly known as P&G, Proctor and Gamble (10) is a soaring FMCG company in India that supplies many household and personal care products. Some of the products they sell are Vicks, Tide, Ambipur, Oral B, Pampers, Pantene, Whisper, Olay, Gillette, Head & Shoulders Ariel, etc. The parent company of P&G is the Procter and Gamble establishment in America founded by Willian Procter. They started their business in India in 1964. It is one of the most reputable FMCG companies in India today and has around 650 million satisfied customers.
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