Colgate-Palmolive India's ad spends drop 5.3% YoY in Q1 FY26

Colgate-Palmolive India reported a 5.4% year-on-year reduction in advertising and promotional expenses for the first quarter of FY26. The company spent Rs 188.41 crore during the quarter ended June 2025, down from Rs 199.07 crore in the same period last year.

On a sequential basis, ad spends saw a 4.3% increase over the previous quarter, when the company had spent Rs 180.57 crore on advertising and promotions.

The moderation in marketing investments comes amid a 4.4 percent decline in net sales, which stood at Rs 1,421 crore, compared to Rs 1,486 crore in Q1 FY25. Net profit after tax for the quarter was Rs 321 crore, as against Rs 364 crore a year earlier.

During the quarter, Colgate launched Colgate Kids Squeezy Toothpaste in Strawberry and Watermelon variants for children aged three to six, and MaxFresh Mouthwash Sachet Stick in Fresh Tea flavour for on-the-go consumers.

Prabha Narasimhan, managing director & CEO of Colgate-Palmolive (India), said, “Our Q1 results reflect persistent headwinds from tough operating conditions on account of subdued urban demand and elevated competition intensity. The current quarter performance is also influenced by cycling a high base from the previous year; net sales grew at 12% CAGR in
the base year same period (Q1 FY23-Q1 FY25). We continued to work towards execution of our strategic priorities. We have made good strides in category premiumisation, with our premium portfolio delivering strong revenue growth. We also prioritised brand investment, leveraging our healthy profit margins. We expect to navigate the current challenges and anticipate a
gradual recovery in the back half of the year.”