WE ARE ADAPTING TO THE NEW NORMAL: TATA SONS CHIEF

The pandemic has brought unprecedented change in the way people live and work, N Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Consumer Products, said at the firm’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday.

Held virtually, the AGM was the first after the merger of the Tata Chemicals consumer business with Tata Global Beverages in February. The consolidated top line of the firm for FY20 stood at ~9,637 crore after the merger.

Nearly 60 per cent of Tata Consumer’s consolidated revenue comes from India, while the rest comes from international markets. “We faced logistical challenges in the Indian market,” Chandrasekaran said. “Limited availability of workers due to large-scale migration, restrictions on movement and transport and time taken to streamline retail operations were some of the key issues.”

While Tata Consumer saw a spike in retail and online sales for its branded businesses, its food-service sales and out-ofhome businesses were impacted. Though some of these challenges, Chandrasekaran said, would persist in the short term, the situation had progressively improved. “We are adapting to the situation by innovating new delivery models to consumers, launching brand campaigns that are impactful in the current context and closely monitoring changes in consumer buying behaviour,” he said.

Tata Consumer has identified new priorities for FY21, including investing behind its salt, tea, and branded food business under Tata Sampann as well as taking health and wellness to the next level following acquisition of Pepsico’s stake in Nourishco joint venture.

“WE ARE LAUNCHING CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE IMPACTFUL IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT”

N Chandrasekaran Chairman,

Tata Consumer Products