Global Personal Care Leaders Seek To Duplicate China Success In India

After their success in China, global skincare brands now have their eyes focused on India’s skincare market, which grows 20-25% yearly. High-end vendor L’Occitane’s 51:49 joint venture deal with Kolkata-based Beauty Concepts illustrates this point. L’Occitane, however, is not alone, as Germany-based Beiersdorf, owner of the Nivea brand, aims to make China and India, along with Brazil and Russia, primary drivers of its planned sales expansion, while L’Oreal, which acquired British brand The Body Shop, is also working hard to expand its business in India. Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) controls the skincare market in India, where a fast growing middle class is flexing its purchasing strength and a growing mall culture has raised brand awareness. Local players including Dabur and Piramal Healthcare, however, are also doing their best to protect their shares of the market.