Colgate to step up herbal presence as competition grows

It reported a 3% decline in volume growth for the March quarter

The country’s largest oral care company, Colgate-Palmolive, will ramp up its herbal portfolio in the next few quarters.

It reported a three per cent decline in volume growth for the March quarter. While in line with Street estimates and lower than the 12 per cent decline in volume growth reported for the December 2016 quarter, this does not bode well for the company, analysts said.

The trend, says Sachin Bobade, analyst for fast-moving consumer goods at city-based brokerage Dolat Capital, appears to be in favour of companies pushing herbal oral care products. 

“Patanjali has been growing its share in oral