Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, based in Karnataka, India, reported a revenue of ₹10,625 crore for FY25, marking a 3.4% year-on-year growth. This was driven by the success of its premium personal care and detergent brands. The company, known for Santoor soap, also recorded a strong 7.8% volume growth and continued its strategy of inorganic expansion across India and Southeast Asia.
Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, the consumer goods division of Wipro Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, reported a revenue of ₹10,625 crore in the financial year 2024–25, reflecting a 3.4% growth over the previous year. Headquartered in Karnataka, India, the company derives 50% of its business from the domestic market.
The company, renowned for its flagship Santoor soap, attributed this growth to strong performance in its premium product lines, including personal care brand Yardley and liquid detergent Softtouch, which outpaced mass-market products. Volume growth for the fiscal stood at 7.8%.
“Last year was tough,” said Vineet Agrawal, CEO of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting and Managing Director of Wipro Enterprises. “Palm oil prices affected us in the second half. However, premium and economy brands did well while mid-tier brands struggled.”
Agrawal noted the strain on middle-class non-discretionary spending due to rising food, rental, and education costs. Still, he expressed optimism as early monsoons boosted consumer sentiment.
Aggressive Inorganic Expansion Strategy
Wipro Consumer Care has pursued inorganic growth aggressively, investing over USD 1 billion in acquisitions across Asia and Africa in the past two decades. Key acquisitions include:
- Unza Holdings Ltd (Singapore, 2007)
- Yardley’s India & Middle East business (2009)
- L.D. Waxson Group (Singapore, 2012)
- Zhongshan Ma Er (China, 2016)
- Nirapara (India, 2022)
- Brahmins Foods (India, 2023)
- Jo, Doy & Bacter Shield brands from VVF (India) Ltd (2023)
These acquisitions have helped the company strengthen its presence in soaps, food products, and personal care categories. Brahmins clocked a 20% growth under Wipro, while Nirapara rebounded to ₹87 crore in revenue.
Wipro has also acquired regional food brands to expand its offerings in traditional Indian foods, staying away from generic products like chips or cornflakes.
Focus on Southeast Asia and Africa
Outside India, Wipro is focusing its acquisition strategy on developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, South China) and Africa, following its 2019 South Africa entry.
“We have a strong balance sheet and are open to raising capital for relevant acquisitions,” Agrawal said. The company aims to consolidate its footprint further, especially in regions where current market share is limited.
Backing Startups Through Wipro Ventures
Wipro Consumer Care, through its venture capital arm Wipro Consumer Care Ventures, also invests in startups in the wellness and consumer segments. Its portfolio includes:
- The Baker’s Dozen
- Gynoveda
- Soulflower
- Let’s Try
- Anveshan
- Moom Health
Originally started as an oil-crushing unit in the 1940s, Wipro Consumer has transformed into a key player in India’s FMCG sector with a growing international footprint.
