The soaring demand for hand sanitisers following the coronavirus pandemic has made several companies —from FMCG players such as Patanjali, Emami, Raymond Consumer Care and Dabur to liquor makers like Radico Khaitan and Diageo — to venture into manufacturing of the disinfectant.
Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs had directed State Governments to grant licences to distilleries and sugar companies to manufacture hand sanitisers to prevent shortage.
Besides, the ministry had also directed deodorant makers to either manufacture or bottle hand sanitisers made by sugar companies and distilleries, which lack capabilities to pack in small units consumed in the market.
Raymond Consumer Care, the FMCG arm of the Raymond Group, which sells personal grooming items such as deodorant and perfume under Park Avenue brand, plans to manufacture hand sanitiser and is awaiting clearances from the Government.
“At Raymond Consumer Care, we intend to make a positive contribution to India’s fight against COVID-19. We are committed to creating innovative products that resonate with the needs of our consumers and we have currently developed an effective hand sanitiser,” said Raymond Consumer Care spokesperson.
“The commercial production of hand sanitiser is currently awaiting the Government approval and it is our endeavour to make the same available across the country through our expansive distribution network,” he added.
Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurved, which also forayed into the hand sanitiser manufacturing last week, claimed it is selling the item at below the price capped by the Government. “We have already sent one million units into the market and would soon produce over one crore units to battle the spread of Covid-19,” said Patanajali Ayurved spokesperson SK Tijarawala.
Last month, the Government capped the maximum retail price of hand sanitiser at Rs 100 per 200 ml bottle till June 30 this year following a sharp rise in prices of this product owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Kolkata-based FMCG major Emami, which owns ‘HE’ brand of deodorants, also has plans to start manufacturing hand sanitisers.
