India’s leading conglomerates – Tata, Reliance Industries (RIL) and Adani – have embarked on a quest to acquire small and medium-sized consumer goods companies and brands across the country to build their FMCG business, which can compete with the likes of Hindustan Unilever ( HUL), Nestlé and P&G. Sources say the groups will announce back-to-back deals in the coming months as part of their portfolio expansion.
Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TPCL) is leading the $100 billion group’s plan and has been scrambling for potential takeovers. In contrast, Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL), the retail arm of RIL, plans to acquire dozens of small food and non-food brands over the next six months to build a portfolio of 50-60 food, home and personal care brands.
Reliance Retail recruits distributors to bring their products to retail stores nationwide and help build a $6 billion to $7 billion FMCG portfolio. TCPL Chief Executive Officer Sunil D’Souza has previously announced the company’s plans to build a sizeable FMCG portfolio. TCPL is a food and beverage company with a presence in tea, coffee, salt, select food categories and liquid beverages. Founded in 2020, the company has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of bottled water company NourishCo Beverages and cereal brand Soulfull.
