Dabur India Appoints Peter Baker As CEO Of H&B Stores

Sunday, May 27, 2007

 

 

New Delhi, May 27, 2007: Dabur India Limited (DIL) today announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Gerard Baker as the Chief Executive Officer for its newly formed retail subsidiary, H&B Stores Ltd. Mr. Baker will look after the new retail initiatives of Dabur India, including establishing the new subsidiary and the stores on a pan-India footprint.

 

Mr. V C Burman, Chairman, Dabur India Limited, said: "I am delighted to announce Mr. Peter Baker's appointment as H&B Stores Ltd's new CEO and am confident his appointment will reinforce our commitment to build a strong management team to carry forward our vision of making H&B Stores the leading player in the Health and Beauty retail space in India."

 

Prior to joining H&B Stores, Mr. Baker was the Group Head of Retail for the Lee Cooper Group and was responsible for over 450 stores around the world. 

 

Mr. Baker has also held a number of Senior Retail Management/Director positions both in Asia and Europe at A S Watson, the world's leading Health & Beauty Store operator.

 

The retail venture is synergistic with Dabur's current portfolio of Ayurvedic & Herbal products and this would provide another platform to showcase the product portfolio. "I look forward to working with Mr. Peter Baker closely, as we exploit new market opportunities and capitalise on the strong momentum already evident in the business," Dabur India Chief Executive Officer Mr. Sunil Duggal said.

 

To support Mr. Baker and to provide the business longer-term experience and knowledge transfer not currently available in India, a number of expatriates will be joining H&B Stores Ltd in the coming months to support Store Design, Development & Operations, Buying & Merchandising, and Supply Chain & Logistics. Dabur India Ltd Group Director Mr. P D Narang said: "We are confident that his leadership skills and consumer orientation would go a long way in building the new retail subsidiary."

 

Mr. Baker said: "I am happy to be part of Dabur India's retail venture, H&B Stores Ltd. They have a vision to provide a great retail experience for consumers in India. I see a big growth in the Indian retail space and H&B Stores Ltd, with its unique offering, is well placed to carve a substantial niche to itself."

 

Dabur India will invest Rs 140 crores by 2010 to establish its presence in the retail market in India with a chain of stores on the Health & Beauty format. H&B Stores Limited plans to set up 350 retail stores across India in 5 years and expand it to over 1,000 stores by its 10th year of operation. As part of its plans to provide a world-class retailing experience to consumers across India, the Company plans to establish stores ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft in size, offering international quality store environment. The product range would comprise leading Indian and international brands, as well as private label products. The retail venture would be run under a separate brand name, which will be decided in due course.

 

 

Dabur India Limited is one of India's leading FMCG Company with a consolidated turnover exceeding Rs 2,000 crores. Building on a legacy of quality and experience for over 120 years, Dabur today is India's most trusted name and the world's largest Ayurvedic and Natural Health Care Company.

 

The largest Indian Personal Care and Health Care Company, Dabur India is also a world leader in Ayurveda with a portfolio of over 250 Herbal/Ayurvedic products. Dabur India's FMCG portfolio today includes five flagship brands with distinct brand identities -- Dabur as the master brand for natural healthcare products, Vatika for premium personal care, Hajmola for digestives, Real for fruit-based drinks and Anmol for affordable personal care business..

 

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