Consumer goods company Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL) on Thursday said that it clocked a billion dollars in revenue in the financial year ended 31 March. The privately-held company also announced plans to add two manufacturing units—in Telangana and Guangzhou, China. They are expected to be operational in FY20.
“The business crossed Rs 6,630 crore with industry-leading growth both in India and overseas,” WCCL said in a statement. Vineet Agrawal, CEO, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, highlighted the company’s “ability to handle” the GST transition in India as a key growth driver. “We proactively engaged with our distributors and partners and clarified their doubts about GST. This gave us momentum in June–July 2017, leading to 18% growth in the India business in FY18. Distribution also improved especially post GST implementation,” he said.
The company recorded 50% of its revenue from international markets—led by Malaysia and China. “Indonesia which had a sluggish first half also bounced back with a double-digit growth in the second half of 2017-18,” the company said. Toilet soap brand Santoor, the company said, was the largest contributor to its overall business.
WCCL has 15 manufacturing facilities spread across India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and a total workforce of over 10,000. In 2012, Wipro segregated its IT-services business from other businesses, creating an unlisted entity (Wipro Enterprises Limited) that comprises two businesses: WCCL and Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, maker of hydraulic cylinders and other high-precision components for the aerospace and defence sectors. WCCL’s portfolio includes brands such as Glucovita, Ayurvedic soap Chandrika, Northwest switches, Yardley, and the businesses under Wipro Unza—Wipro acquired Singapore-based Unza Holdings in 2007 for $246 million.