Marico Q1FY23 Update: Indian business volumes declines in mid-single digits

Marico on Tuesday reported its operating performance and demand trends for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 (Q1FY23). In its quarterly update, the company said the sector continued to witness tepid demand as rising retail inflation exerted pressure on the share of wallet for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). The maker of Saffola and Parachute oil said that the Indian business volumes declined in the mid-single digits.

The performance was particularly dragged by a sharp drop in Saffola Oils. The performance was particularly dragged by a sharp drop in Saffola Oils. Excluding Saffola Oils, the India business posted marginal volume growth. Parachute Coconut Oil recorded a minor volume decline.

The brand passed on more value to consumers towards the second half of the quarter amidst steady deflation in copra. Value-Added Hair Oils grew in low single digits in value terms despite weak consumer sentiment, especially in rural areas. Saffola Oils declined in double digits, having to contend with high in-home consumption in the base quarter and significant downtrading visible from super-premium to mass segment in Edible Oils.

The brand chose to maintain threshold margins over volumes in the face of unprecedented raw material inflation, supply chain issues and the undesirable effect of price hikes on the absolute outlay for the consumer.

The company in its regulatory filing said, "Current trends indicate that consumers titrated consumption in some nonessential categories and either downtraded among brands or switched to smaller packs in the essential categories. In contrast, premium discretionary categories fared relatively better because of a lower base and lower consumption dip in the upper-income consumer segment."

Its foods business also had a slow quarter due to a high in-home consumption base in Oats and a sharp decline in immunity-led categories like honey, among others. Premium Personal Care posted robust growth across all segments of the portfolio. Digital-first brands remained on track and met internal aspirations.

In the context of international business, the company said that the international business maintained its strong momentum, delivering high-teen constant currency growth. All markets exhibited strength and stayed on the path of sustained profitable growth, despite the prevailing global uncertainty and inflationary pressures. Consolidated revenue in the quarter ended marginally higher on a year-on-year basis.

Consolidated revenue in the quarter ended marginally higher on a year-on-year basis.

Among key inputs, copra prices remained soft during the quarter. Edible and crude oil prices cooled to some extent towards the end of the quarter, but the Company consumed higher-cost inventory in this quarter. The gross margin is expected to expand on a year-on-year basis but remains near the same levels as the preceding quarter. A&P spending grew in the low teens on a year-on-year basis, as the Company maintained investments towards the strategic brand building of core and new franchises.

The company expect the operating margin to expand, leading to reasonable operating profit growth on a year-on-year basis. The effective tax rate (ETR) will be higher by 250-300 bps in FY23 due to the expiration of fiscal benefits in one of the manufacturing units. Therefore, net profit growth is expected to lag operating profit growth.

The Company maintains its aspiration of delivering sustainable and profitable volume-led growth over the medium term, enabled by the strengthening brand equity of its core franchises and scaling up new engines of growth.