Winter products in the December face setback quarter

Delayed onset of winters impacted stocking and sale of products such as immunity boosters, creams, lotions, and warm clothing in December quarter. However, companies reported a pick up in sales in the end of December and early week of January.

- Suneera Tandon

Companies typically see brisk sales of lotions, oils, creams, immunity-building products, and winter wear during the months of November, December, and January. However, several companies said the window for prolonged winters shrank this year with parts of north India seeing a warmer-than expected December. However, temperatures dropped post 20 December with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing cold day alerts over parts of north India.

"From the domestic perspective, demand for winter-centric products has been subdued due to a weak winter growth is primarily a factor of robust placement of products with trade in October, but tertiary sales have not revived, given a frail winter. Organic domestic volume growth is likely to be in the low-to-mid single digit," according to a Emkay Securities report.