Gillette India sees mktg synergy with P&G

Gillette India, the Indian arm of the US-based company, was expecting marketing synergy after its integration with global FMCG major Procter & Gamble (P&G).

"We foresee a synergy from marketing point of view from P&G, post merger," Sumeet Narang, regional business manager (India & South Asia) of Gillette said when asked if there was any benefit in devising new marketing strategies after the pending takeover process was implemented.

Stating that though there had been no interaction between the two companies at the regional level in India on the issue, the merger was expected to benefit both the brands.

Global shareholders of both the companies were expected to vote for the proposed $57 billion deal on July 12. The deal faced delay following objections from some quarters.

Narang was speaking at the launch of a new blade band in the metropolis. He launched a low end new product in its twin blade range, Wilkinson Sword Twin 2, priced at Rs 10 to cater to the semi-rural market.

Gillette India hoped to maintain the current level of growth in the grooming business. In the Q1 period of the current fiscal the grooming segment of the company grew by about 11%.

The grooming business contributed about 80% of the company's total revenue which was Rs 406 crore for the year 2004-05.