P&G plans India e-commerce platform

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Dec 13, 2019

Procter & Gamble plans to launch an e-commerce platform in India to tap into the country’s booming online market and is currently testing a beta version of the site.

P&G, which runs a wide range of fast moving consumer goods brands, will launch its e-commerce platform in around a month’s time, ET Bureau reported. P&G is currently testing a beta version of the e-commerce store which is being managed by the business’ distributor BG Distributor in Kolkata, a source told the Economic Times. 

The business will learn from its distributor’s beta operation, sources said. US-based P&G plans to use its Kolkata-based distributor to run operations for the e-commerce site and P&G will just supply the products with no financial investment. The beta version of the site includes P&G’s haircare brand Herbal Essences among other personal care goods.

Indian foreign direct investment regulations allow international businesses to sell products on their own e-commerce platforms if the products are 100% made in India. However, as P&G does not plan to run the portal itself, it will be able to sell goods manufactured overseas.

 Last month, P&G reported that its hygiene and healthcare segment saw profits decrease by 5% to Rs 137 crore ($19.4 million) for its first financial quarter which ended September 30. Revenue, however, was up by 7% to Rs 852 crore in the same time period.