Price hike imminent, to bring more brands: Reckitt Benckiser

"Cost have gone up dramatically. Global commodity prices are going up. So price increases will happen," Reckitt Benckiser India Chairman and Managing Director Chander Mohan Sethi told reporters here.He, however, did not specify the details on when the company would hike the prices of its products and by how much.

"I cannot say when we will do it but maintaining input cost (at the present rate) is difficult for us," he said.In the last few months, the firm had taken a price hike of some of its products in the homecleaning products segment, including Lizol and Harpic, in the range of 2-3 per cent.

Asked about the company's plan to expand its product portfolio by bringing more global brands in India, Sethi said: "We will continue to look at introducing more variants and more relevant power brands in the country."

He, however, did not give the names of the brands or products the company is likely to introduce but said it will look for opportunities in the household and healthcare.
"There is a huge market for us in the household and healthcare space and we will look for opportunities to roll our more brands," he said.

At present, Reckitt Benckiser sells 11 brands, including Dettol, Air wick and Cherry Blossom, in India. The company has a portfolio of 17 brands in the global market.The company had recently set up its second manufacturing facility in Uttaranchal plant in India at an investment of Rs 100. The new plant has been operational since February this year and can produce multiple products."We will continue to look at expanding our capacities, whenever it is required and as the demand for our product grows up," he said.