Dabur posts 16.42 per cent rise in Q3 profit at Rs 282.78 crore

Dabur, the FMCG firm, on Friday posted 16.42 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 282.78 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, even as subdued demand continued to impact the sector.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 242.88 crore in the same period of 2013-14 fiscal.

Its consolidated net sales in third quarter of current fiscal grew by 9.16 per cent at Rs 2,073.57 crore, as against Rs 1,899.5 crore in the year-ago period, Dabur India said in a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) filing.

"Despite a sharp fall in growth rates in most consumer products segments, Dabur continued to focus on brand-building and market expansion programmes and reported strong growth in its core categories, which have been significantly ahead of the market," Dabur India Chief Executive Officer Sunil Duggal said.

"Going forward too, our focus will be on pursuing an aggressive and profitable growth strategy," he added.

During the quarter, revenue from Dabur's consumer care business grew by 7.97 per cent to Rs 1,790.8 crore while revenue from food business grew by 13.41 per cent to Rs 219.83 crore.

Its smaller vertical retail business and other segments grew by 33.45 per cent to Rs 25.65 crore and 33.60 per cent to Rs 37.29 crore respectively.

The company said its international business growth during the quarter was led by Egypt at 29 per cent, Levant (comprising Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria markets) at 17 per cent and GCC at 14 per cent.

Dabur shares were trading at Rs 256.25 apiece in afternoon trade, down 0.79 per cent from previous close on BSE.