We have tied with all e-commerce players for door-to-door delivery of our products: Ullas Kasaragod Kamath, Jyothy Labs Ltd

Ullas Kasaragod Kamath, Joint Managing Director, Jyothy Labs Ltd, talks about the performance of the sanitizer that was launched under the brand name Margo, plans - including door-to-door service - to reach the consumers in the post-COVID world and new product launches during a candid chat with Swati Khandelwal, Zee Business. Edited Excerpts: 

Q: You company in the recent past has launched a hand-sanitizer under the brand name Margo in the market. Tell us about the kind of response that it received? Also, do you have plans to launch some new products that can contribute to the new world that will be created in the post-COVID world?

A: The new launch, Margo Sanitizer, is doing well. We are facing issues related to transportation but the product is in demand. It has been launched in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and part of Kerala. As of now, the demand for sanitizer is very-very high and is also it is available in Rs 20 pack, so everybody wants that. The production is being done but transportation is a little problematic. I think that with this new normal now, we will be able to get it in the market place across the country and it will be available across the country by June/ July. 

Q: How are you tying up for the door-to-door delivery of your products to promote your business because in the new normal people may not come out of their homes soon and prefer home delivery of products instead of moving out to the malls?  

A: FMCG sector is the last one to be affected and the first one to recover because most of our products are essential products. Our company’s direct distribution is good and our factories are located at 17 locations and that’s why we are in much advantageous position as compared to the competition. We are offering from 17 locations and 24 factories, which are completely open right now but we are working with 50-60% instant capacity keeping social distancing and other aspects in the mind. But across the country, including Jammu and Guwahati, all the factories were opened last week and with that, the production has turned normal and we can increase the base on requirement. You rightly said that door-to-door delivery is becoming a part of the business model, especially in the urban area and we have tied with all e-commerce players and also the newly available apps. We have also launched our App and sending the products directly to the consumer’s house because the customer is very-very important. In the semi-urban and rural the same old retail outlet is going on. As of now for us, the demand is very good at urban and semi-urban areas and rural was in difficulty before the lockdown also because slowdown was there. But with the government’s new initiatives we feel that the optic will be very-very high. Also, the migrants going back to their place I think rural should take off very quickly with the government’s support. Most of the products are essential in the FMCG business and they just want the products in their neighbourhood stores. With the new openings happened from Monday, we expect our business to be normal as quickly as possible.  

Watch Zee Business live TV below:

Q: There are six business divisions where you work largely including fabric care Ujala a market leader. But do you feel that there is a need for diversification in household insecticides utensil cleanses segment, if yes, then what is your strategy for new launches?

A: During this period, we have launched two products, namely Margo Sanitizer and Margo Hand Wash, which is relevant to today’s world. They were launched just before the COVID and are very relevant. And you rightly said that the FMCG consumers will see hygiene, health and all those things that are an add-on. Fortunately for Jyothi’s Exo, the dish wash has always been an anti-bacterial and has been India’s first anti-bacterial dish wash bar. So Exo-family healthy family slogan has been in existence in the past as well and we are going ahead with that. Most of the products, like Exo, Maxo or Margo, have been related to the health platform. Neem values that we got now in products like Margo, the goodness of the Neem leaves, has made a lot of difference and the growth has been the same. So, I don’t think that we need to introduce something different from what we are doing currently. But, you can see an extension in the form of sanitizer, hand wash and some more things coming in the Exo family in months to come. They will be developed in the post-COVID situation.