Unlocking future

With acquisitions, expansion and new businesses, Godrej is spreading its wings

- NACHIKET KELKAR

Adi’s spell was truly great,” said Nadir Godrej in a touching tribute to his older brother, when Adi Godrej stepped down as chairman of Godrej Industries in August 2021 and passed on the mantle to him.

It was, indeed. Under Adi’s leadership, the group’s flagship, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), grew from being a homegrown consumer goods maker to a multinational company with a strong presence in south east Asia, Africa and Latin America. And Godrej Properties became one of the top real estate firms with projects countrywide.

Nadir seems to have filled his brother’s big shoes comfortably, as Godrej continues to expand into newer areas like financial services and sexual wellness, and its overseas operations rapidly growing through acquisitions. It bought Megasari in Indonesia, Darling Group in Africa, Issue Group and Argencos in Latin America, and Strength of Nature in the US, among many other companies in the past decade. And, there seems to be appetite for more.

In India, however, the group has been more discreet. It recently bought the consumer care business of Raymond for ₹2,825 crore. The last acquisition before that was almost three decades ago when it bought Transelektra Domestic Products, bringing the Goodknight brand into its fold.