African Consumer Care Ltd Sets Up New Manufacturing Facility

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The 430 Million Naira Plant Inaugurated, To Produce Toothpastes

Announces Plans To Enter Skin Care, Home Care Markets

 

Nigeria, November 20, 2007: African Consumer Care Ltd, a subsidiary of Dabur International Ltd, today commissioned its new manufacturing facility in Nigeria. The event was witnessed by a cross section of dignitaries.

 

The plant, set up with an investment of 430 million Naira, will manufacture a range of toothpastes for the African markets. The production line at the new facility would be expanded to introduce newer toothpaste variants and manufacture a range of skin care, home care and household disinfectant products.

 

“Nigeria is today one of the fastest growing overseas markets for Dabur. We have already seen our business in Nigeria triple during the July-September quarter of 2007, and with this new facility in place, AFCC is confident of further boosting its presence in the Nigeria and neighboring markets,” says Mr. Sunil Duggal, Chief Executive Officer, Dabur India Ltd.

 

“Building a manufacturing facility in Nigeria was an important strategic decision for Dabur and African Consumer Care Ltd. Nigeria is one of the world’s most rapidly growing markets for FMCG products, and a manufacturing presence here gives us a competitive edge that we intend to utilize in full,” Mr. Duggal added.

 

Spread over 2.5 acres of land, the construction of the manufacturing plant had commenced in August 2007. The plant made up of state of the art production facility is expected to give a quantum leap to the capacity of AFCC to meet the demand of its customers and consumers who are on a daily increase. With its stringent quality control mechanism and highly hygienic production environment in place, consumers can be sure of products that are coming out of a factory that adheres to world class Good Manufacturing Practice. 

 

Currently, the plant employs between 60 to 70 people, and the intention is to increase the number of staff gradually up to 200 employees by 2010. There is also the opportunity of providing indirect employment opportunities for thousands of people in this country. “The construction project has progressed according to the planned schedule and budget,” says Mr. S. Krishnan, Country Head, African Consumer Care Ltd.

 

Dabur had forayed into Nigeria in 2004 with the setting up of African Consumer Care Ltd – a joint venture between Dabur International Ltd, which holds 90% stake in the venture, and Dabur UK. The company successfully launched its oral care brand Dabur Herbal Toothpaste in the market in December 2004, followed by Dabur Herbal Gel in April 2007. The product portfolio was later expanded to include the New Advanced Odomos Mosquito Repellent Cream and  Medicated Soap in 2007. Plan is also afoot to enter into the Skin Care and the Home Care categories. AFCC is committed to providing good quality products for the Nigerian consumers at “value for money” prices.

 

AFCC has seen a consistent and steady rise in its turnover. Dabur herbal Toothpaste is one of the fastest growing brands in AFCC’s portfolio, having already captured a near 10% share of the market in Lagos alone.

 

Corporate Communications Dabur India Limited PH:- 95120-3982000, 3001000 extn 2101/2547 Fax: 95120-4374935 Email:corpcomm@dabur.com