Dabur India Limited plans to serve 100,000 Indian villages directly while expanding its premium brands, a push to broaden rural sales as input costs squeeze its operating margin.
India business CEO Herjit Singh Bhalla told Mint and Financial Express that the village goal would double Dabur’s direct reach. The company also listed the target in a Nov. 5 investor presentation, which gave no completion date. It is seeking wider rural distribution while putting more emphasis on higher-priced products.
The doubling description remains unresolved alongside Dabur’s earlier figures. At its 2023 annual meeting, the company said it had reached 100,000 villages. In January 2026, it said its broader distribution network covered more than 133,000 villages. Neither figure establishes how many villages Dabur currently serves directly or whether its measure of reach has changed.
Premium brands accounted for 20% of Dabur’s domestic business in the quarter ended Sept. 30, the company said. They grew at four times the rate of its regular brands. Bhalla told Financial Express he aims to raise the premium share to 23% within 18 months. In a separate interview with Mint, he said Dabur would keep its mass-market range alongside the premium products.
Dabur’s consolidated revenue rose 11.6% from a year earlier to ₹3,563.1 crore in the quarter. Operating profit increased 7.5% to ₹632.5 crore, though the operating margin narrowed to 17.8% from 18.4% amid elevated input costs. Revenue in its India fast-moving consumer goods business grew 10.7%, including 5.5% underlying volume growth. Dabur’s investor presentation called for selective investment in core brands as it expands distribution.
The targets come amid a management change. Global Chief Executive Officer Mohit Malhotra is due to leave Nov. 13. Bhalla’s five-year board appointment is set to begin Nov. 14, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, and Dabur said he will continue to lead its India business.
