1. A PROJECT REPORT ON
RURAL MARKETING STRATEGIES.
CONTEXT:- HLL
SUBMITTED TO
UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
BY
SHRUTI ASHOK BHATTER
T. Y. B.M.S.
YEAR 2005-2006
THROUGH
TOLANI COLLEGE OF COMMERCE
ANDHERI (EAST), MUMBAI – 400 093

2. Acknowledgement
At the outset I would like to take the privilege to convey my
gratitude to all those who co-operated, supported, helped and suggested
me as to how the project could be completed. This project bears imprint
of advices, from many people who were either directly or indirectly
involved in it.
The Internet has been a veritable treasure throve of information,
the websites and the information they contained helped me to do the
project in a much easier and better manner.
I am also desirous of placing on record profound indebtness to my
guide Prof. Vijaya Krishna, Tolani College of Commerce , Andheri for
her valuable advices, guidance, precious time and support that she lent
to me.
I would also like to thank Mr. Shubhankar Bhattacharya, Sales
Training Manager of HLL, for his time and valuable inputs in the
course of my research.

3. DECLARATION
I Shruti Bhatter of Tolani College of Commerce of TYBMS (Sem V)
hereby declare that I have completed this project on Rural Marketing
Strategies (Context:- HLL) , for the Academic Year 2005 – 2006.
The information submitted is true and original to the best of my
knowledge.
Place: MUMBAI Shruti Bhatter
Date:

4. CERTIFICATE
I Prof. Vijaya Krishna hereby certify that Shruti Bhatter of Tolani
College of commerce of TYBMS (Sem V) has completed its project tittled
Rural Marketing Strategies (Context:- HLL) in the academic year 2005 -
2006.
The information submitted is true and original to the best of my
knowledge.
Prof. Vijaya Krishna Dr. A. Rashid Dr. Sheela Purohit
(Project Guide) (BMS Co-ordinator) (Principal)

5. Table of Contents
Topic No. TOPICS Page No.
1. Executive Summary 1-2
2. Introduction to Rural markets. 3
3. History. 4 – 6
4. Features of Indian Rural markets. 7
5. Profile of Rural consumer. 8-9
6. Evolution of Rural marketing. 10
7. Current scenario of Rural Markets. 11-12
8. Why Companies Go Rural? 13-14
9. Problems in Rural marketing. 14-16
10. Rural product strategies. 17-20
11. Rural Pricing strategies. 21-22
12. Rural Promotion strategies. 23-26
13. Rural Distribution strategies. 27-37
14. Introduction of Hindustan Lever Limited. 38-42
15. Highlights of HLL Marketing Strategy. 43-66
16. Challenges faced by HLL. 66-68
17. Questionnaire. 68-70
18. Case on Wheel Strategies. 71-74
19. Relationship Marketing Case: HLL 75-76
20. Smarter than one Imagines. 77-79
21. Conclusion. 80
22. Recommendations. 81
23. Bibliography. 82

6. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The topic that was taken up for detailed study is ‘Rural Marketing Strategies’.
The procedure, not only varies in different sectors but also in different
companies. The marketing strategies that companies adopt to launch their
various new products keep changing with time and the prevailing market
situations. This study was undertaken to get a deep insight into the marketing
strategies adopted in rural areas. Companies have to use different
combinations of Marketing mix variable for Rural Markets.
Product Strategy.
In the rural market, the consumer is utility oriented. The quality of the product
is always given a very high preference as compared to the brand name of the
product. The product has to have good purchase value in order for it to be
purchased i.e. the product has to offer value for money. The product has to be
affordable and has to satisfy rural needs.
Pricing Strategy
The pricing of the product should be designed in such a way that it
contributes to the objectives of the marketers and needs of the consumers. The
product cost has to be low in order for the product to be successful in the rural
market.
Distribution Strategy.
Whilst formulating specific strategies for distribution in rural areas the
characteristics of the product – whether it is consumable or durable, the life of
the product and other factors has to be kept in mind.
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7. Distribution Strategies formulated for the rural areas could consider the
use of satellite distribution, private village shops etc and various channels of
distribution and physical distribution facilities in Rural markets. Due to very
regular occurrence, shandies/haats/melas are of great importance keeping the
distribution strategy in mind.
Promotion strategy.
Promotion strategies should be cost effective. Word-of-Mouth and Opinion
Leaders are of great significance in a promotion strategy. Another important
attribute in promotion strategy is Mass Media i.e. Television, Cinema, Radio,
Print Media, etc.
To understand the marketing strategy and marketing mix used by
companies in rural markets, the strategies of HLL the major FMCG which
was successful in penetrating in rural market has been discussed and its few
cases are mentioned in the project.
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8. Introduction to rural markets.
The rise of rural markets has been the most important phenomenon of the 1990’s, providing
volume growth to all leading companies. Many corporates have been trying to get a grip on
rural market. But challenges are many: how to make the product affordable, how to
penetrate villages with small populations, connectivity, communications, language barriers,
spurious brands, etc.
Marketers and manufacturers are increasingly aware of the burgeoning purchasing power,
vast size and demand base of the once neglected Indian hinterland. Efforts are now on to
understand the attitude of rural consumers, and to walk their walk and talk their talk. The
marketing mix of many companies is now being tailored to rural tastes and lifestyles.
Government agencies like IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) and
NCAER (National Council for Applied Economic Research) define ‘rural’ as “villages with
a population of less than 5000, with 75% of the male population engaged in agriculture,
etc.” Two-third of the country’s consumer (more than 700 million) live in rural areas and
almost 26% of the national income is generated there. And 10 consecutive good monsoons
have lead to improved returns from agriculture (which is India’s largest economic sector
and accounts for 26% of GDP, increasing the spending power in India’ s rural areas. India
is divided into 597 districts, and has 638,667 villages, of which 32% can be reached and are
connected by pucca roads. However, 68% of the rural market lies untapped due to various
reasons ranging from inaccessibility to lack of awareness.
In all, there are more than 3.8 million retail outlets in rural India, 5.8 shops per village
(the term ‘shop’ refers to any type of premises – haats, stalls, shacks-that sell goods).
Overall, the rural market has been growing at 3-4%per annum, adding more than 1 million
new consumers every year, and now accounts for close to 50% of the volume of
consumption of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in India.
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9. As a result, it is becoming an important part of the market development strategies of all
FMCG companies, including multinational ones, as well as consumer durables business
and services companies as well.
Further, the vast untapped potential of the rural markets is growing at a rapid pace. The
policies of the government largely favour rural development programmes. This is clearly
highlighted by the fact that the outlay for rural development has risen from Rs 14000 crores
in the 7th plan to Rs 30000 crores in the 8th plan period. Thus, with the rural markets
bulging in both size and volume, any marketing manager will be missing a great potential
opportunity if he does not go rural.
History.
At the time of independence in 1947, the rural markets were practically non-existent. They
consumed what they produced.
What they bought as manufactured goods (products) used to be only some salt, tea ,
tobacco, kerosene, gold and silver ornaments etc. For shelter they depended on the
construction material available in the village; for agricultural implements, the blacksmith;
for clothes, the weaver; for vessels, the potter. They went to local quacks and vaids for
medicine and maternity. For fuel, fertilizer transport and ploughing, there was the cox and
oxen. For water, either the pond or well or the wayward monsoons.
In the post Independence period considerable thinking has been laid by the Indian
planners in developing the rural areas by giving substantial emphasis on promoting the
social and economic status of rural people. The need for overall development in rural areas
has been stressed in India planning all through the years. The era of rural development
started with the Second Five Year Plan which emphasized the implementation of various
community development projects in different sectors through the Panchayat Raj Institutions
(PRI’s).
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10. Even in 1940’s and 1950’s many manufacturers invested in rural markets. They were
mainly consumer product manufacturers as Levers with Sunlight and Dalda; Geoffrey
manners with Anacin; Union carbide with Eveready batteries and few others.
By the 1960’s there was a flood of other manufacturers in rural markets. The green
revolution was started in 1960. With green revolution many companies like Siemens with a
package of products for water drilling; marketers of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, bicycles,
motor cycles etc. took their products to rural consumers.
Later, in 1969, the government formulated schemes with direct intervention to assist the
rural poor. In the subsequent years many programmes and schemes have been designed and
floated in rural areas assessing the local needs and programme objective at micro level.
Many of these development programmes have undergone considerable changes in
implementation process observing setbacks at different levels of functionaries.
In late seventies, reviewing the efforts made to uplift the rural economy through various
development programmes in successive five year plans, the policy on rural development
has largely stressed on achieving the sustainable development within the broad objectives.
Since 1980’s India’s industrial sector had gained in strength and maturity. Its contribution
to GNP increased substantially. Mean while due to the development programmes of Central
and State governments, service organizations and socially responsible business groups like
Mafatlal, Tatas, Birlas, Goenkas and others, the rural areas witnessed an all round socio-
economic progress.
The National Council For Applied Economic Research’s (NCAER), Market Information
Survey of Household (MISH) shows that the 1980’s saw a faster improvement in the
distribution of income in rural than in urban India. This trend accelerated from 1989-90
number of households with income over Rs 25000 per annum of nine million(around 50
million people), and above Rs 12500 per annum of 35 million households (around 160
million people).
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11. The economic reforms of 1991-92 further accelerated the process by introducing
competition in the markets. Steadily the rural market has grown for household consumables
and durables.
Prominent rural markets in India in 1999.
STATE NUMBER OF VILLAGES TOTAL
5,000 – 9,000
POPULATION
ABOVE 10,000
POPULATION
BIHAR 1604 330 1934
ANDRA
PRADESH
1474 313 1787
UTTAR
PRADESH
1336 129 1465
WEST BENGAL 1117 208 1325
KERALA 252 1007 1259
MAHARASHTRA 762 192 954
KARNATAKA 570 100 670
GUJARAT 575 75 650
HARYANA 364 74 448
PUNJAB 202 14 216
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12. Current Distribution of No of villages and population in villages
Population No of villages % of total villages
Less than 200 92,541 15.6
200-500 127,054 21.4
501-1000 144,817 24.4
1001-2000 129,662 21.9
2001-5000 80,313 13.5
5001-1000 18,758 3.2
Total no of villages 593,154* 100.0
*Inhabited villages, total number of villages is 638, 691 .
Features of Indian Rural Markets
• Large and Scattered market:
The rural market of India is large and scattered in the sense that it consists of over 63 crore
consumers from 5,70,000 villages spread throughout the country.
• Major income from agriculture:
Nearly 60 % of the rural income is from agriculture. Hence rural prosperity is tied with
agricultural prosperity.
• Low standard of living:
The consumer in the village area do have a low standard of living because of low literacy,
low per capita income, social backwardness, low savings, etc.
• Traditional Outlook:
The rural consumer values old customs and tradition. They do not prefer changes.
• Diverse socio-economic backwardness:
Rural consumers have diverse socio-economic backwardness. This is different in different
parts of the country
• Infrastructure Facilities:
The Infrastructure Facilities like roads, warehouses, communication system, financial
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13. facilities are inadequate in rural areas. Hence physical distribution becomes costly due to
inadequate Infrastructure facilities.
Profile of the Rural Consumer
1) Low Literacy levels: It is estimated that the literacy level in Rural India is 45% as
compared to 52% for the whole country. The literacy rate is low so this comes in way for
promotion. Therefore marketer cannot use Print media and Hoardings, he has to adopt
Product Demonstrations.
2) Low Income Levels: Though Rural incomes have grown in the past decade the per
capita incomes of rural consumer are low compared to urban counterpart. A large part of
the income is spent on basic necessities, leaving a smaller portion for other consumer
goods.
3) Location pattern of rural consumers: India’s urban population is concentrated in
3,200 cities and towns, whereas the rural population is scattered over 638,667 villages. Of
these, only 6,300 have a population of more than 5000 persons. More than three lakh
villages are in the category of 500 people or less (55 percent of the total), and more than
1.5 lakh villages have 200 people or less( 25 percent of the total). Rural consumers
therefore are scattered over a large area, unlike their Urban counterparts who are highly
concentrated.
4) Reference Groups: Typically, in a rural area the reference groups are primary
health workers, doctors, teachers and panchayat members. The village trader or the grocer,
commonly called ‘Baniya’ or ‘Mahajan’ may also be an important influence in decision
making of the rural customers. This is because the trader extends credit to the farmers.
Today, another person who is considered a change agent is the rural bank’s officer or
manager.
8

14. 5) Occupation: Typically, in a rural area the principal occupation is farming, trading,
crafts, and other odd jobs like plumbing, electric works etc. There are also primary heath
workers and teachers. The different types of farming activities include growing crops,
cattle and poultry farming. The basis for differentiation is obviously the size and ownership
of land. Consumption patterns differ according to income levels.
6) Media Habits: Rural people are fond of music and folklore. In rural Maharashtra a
popular form of entertainment is the Tamasha. Rural folk listen to the brave deeds of their
hero Shivaji. Likewise, in Uttar Pradesh, Nautanki entertains the Rural customer. And then
there are T.V, Radio and Video films.
7) Other variables: Culture, language, religion, caste and social customs are some
other important variables for profiling a rural consumer. Rural consumers have a lot of
inhabitations and tend to be rigid in their behavior. A company has to take intense care
while targeting them
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15. Evolution of Rural Marketing
The Glorious Past (1940-1990)
In 1949 Asian Paints was the first company to enter rural markets. In the 1960’s Hindustan
Lever Ltd (HLL) saw rural markets as an opportunity and entered with Lifebuoy soap.
Today HLL dominates rural markets and has a presence in more than one lakh villages.
Major players like Colgate, Dabur, etc followed suit. In the 1980s. young companies like
Nirma, CavinKare and Marico entered rural markets. MNCs like Proctor & Gamble also
started rural marketing.
The Pulse of Present (1999-2000)
Today around 70 percent of the population lives in rural India (more than 700 million). A
one percent increase in their purchasing power would lead to an increase of Rs 10,000
crore in government revenues. Companies are launching a plethora of products to cater to
changing lifestyles in rural India. MNCs like LG, Samsung and Revlon, and insurance
biggies like Birla Sunlife, Max New York life and Prulife are entering the rural market in a
big way; currently, however, these companies have tapped only one lakh of the 6 lakh-odd
villages.
The Furious Future (2000 onwards)
The media explosion and satellite invasion have brought about drastic changes in the
consuming habits of rural Indians and the future would hold a lot in store for companies
entering rural markets. New players like Nestle, Mc Donalds and MTV are eyeing rural
markets, and companies like HLL plan to extend their reach to almost 2.5 lakh villages in
the next 5-6 years (2006-2007).
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16. Current Scenario of rural market.
Rural market - A world of opportunity
GONE are the days when a rural consumer went to a nearby city to buy “branded products
and services". Time was when only a select household consumed branded goods, be it tea
or jeans. There were days when big companies flocked to rural markets to establish their
brands. Today, rural markets are critical for every marketer - be it for a branded shampoo
or an automobile. Time was when marketers thought van campaigns, cinema commercials
and a few wall paintings would suffice to entice rural folks under their folds. Thanks to
television, today a customer in a rural area is quite literate about myriad products that are
on offer in the market place.
Trends indicate that the rural markets are coming up in a big way and growing twice as
fast as the urban, witnessing a rise in sales of hitherto typical urban kitchen gadgets such as
refrigerators, mixer-grinders and pressure cookers. According to a National Council for
Applied Economic Research (NCAER) study, there are as many 'middle income and above'
households in the rural areas as there are in the urban areas. There are almost twice as
many 'lower middle income' households in rural areas as in the urban areas. At the highest
income level there are 2.3 million urban households as against 1.6 million households in
rural areas. According to Mr. D. Shivakumar, Business Head (Hair), Personal Products
Division, of Hindustan Lever Limited, the money available to spend on FMCG (Fast
Moving Consumer Goods) products by urban India is Rs. 49,500 crores as against is Rs.
63,500 crores in rural India.
As per NCAER projections, the number of middle and high income households in rural
India is expected to grow from 80 million to 111 million by 2007. In urban India, the same
is expected to grow from 46 million to 59 million. Thus, the absolute size of rural India is
expected to be double that of urban India. Even in lifestyle products, rural India will be
significant over next five years.
There is a need to differentiate the brand according to regional disparities. The
differentiation may not necessarily be in terms of product content. It may also be in terms
of packaging, communication or association with the brand.
11

17. The brand has to be made relevant by understanding local needs. Even offering the same
product in different regions with different brand names could be adopted as a strategy. At
times it is difficult to pass on an innovation over an existing product to the rural consumer
unlike his urban counterpart - like increased calcium or herbal content or a germ-control
formula in toothpaste.
According to Mr. Shivakumar, of HLL, the four factors which influence demand in rural
India are - Access, Attitude, Awareness and Affluence. HLL has successfully used this to
influence the rural market for its shampoos in sachets. The sachet strategy has proved so
successful that, according to an ORG - MARG survey, 95 per cent of total shampoo sales
in rural India is by sachets. The company had developed a direct access to markets through
wholesale channel and created awareness through media, demonstration and on ground
contact. This changed the attitude of the villagers.
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18. WHY COMPANIES GO RURAL?
Over the years Rural India has seen an impressive growth. Substantial improvement in
purchasing power, increasing brand consciousness, changing consumption pattern and
rapid spread of communication network in rural areas has presented a growing potential for
the corporate sector.
It’s better to target the rural market as it is growing by the day. Rural India is emerging as a
large market for a number of goods and services – financial services, health care, education
and telecommunication…the list seems to be endless. Today rural markets are as critical as
urban markets for marketers. Here are some of the reasons:
Urban Markets Are Getting Saturated
There is cutthroat competition in urban markets, with a wide variety of choices of products.
It’s becoming difficult for existing companies to maintain their market shares in urban
markets. For example, it is reported that there are around 86 branded cosmetic soaps in the
urban markets! So there is no point for a new company to enter the urban market. The rural
markets provide better opportunities.
A Huge Untapped Market
With only around 1,00,000 of the 6,38,667 villages tapped so far, there is huge potential
and market areas. With a rural population of more than 700 million, it is a huge market.
Rising Disposable Incomes
Good monsoons during the past 10 years have raised farmers’ incomes. Nonfarm sectors
now account for almost 50% of total rural incomes. It’s a market that corporates cannot
afford to ignore. Another reason for the rising disposable incomes of villages is that
agricultural income is not taxed.
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19. Remittances from Abroad.
Many households in rural India have one of their family members abroad , mostly in Gulf
countries . People working there send their saving to their families in India , which is an
additional source of Income.
Impact of the Media
The growing rich of the electronics media has created a huge change in the lifestyles of
rural consumers because of TV programmes like soaps and other serials. Rural people are
spending more on lifestyle products like lipsticks. Modi, Revlons, for instant, sells more
lipstick in the rural market than in urban areas.
The Indian rural market with its vast size and demand base offers a huge opportunity that
MNCs cannot afford to ignore. To expand the market by tapping the countryside, more and
more MNCs are foraying into India's rural markets. Among those that have made some
headway are Hindustan Lever, Coca-Cola, LG Electronics, Britannia, Standard Life,
Philips, Colgate Palmolive and the foreign-invested telecom companies.
Problems in the Booming Rural Marketing
Although the rural market does offer a vast untapped potential, it should also be recognized
that it is not that easy to operate in rural market because of several problems. Rural
marketing is thus a time consuming affair and requires considerable investments in terms of
evolving appropriate strategies with a view to tackle the problems. The major problems
faced are:
• Underdeveloped People and Underdeveloped Markets:
The number of people below poverty line has not decreased in any appreciable manner.
Thus underdeveloped people and consequently underdeveloped market by and large
characterize the rural markets. Vast majorities of the rural people are tradition bound,
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20. fatalistic and believe in old customs, traditions, habits, taboos and practices. They face
frustrations of intermittent, inconsistent electrical power , archaic , scarce and unreliable
and telephony , non-feudal politico-business associations that hinder development efforts,
deeply ingrained ideologies of caste hierarchy , gender inequality , and religious-communal
difference , as well as significant deprivations of basic human needs.
• Lack of Proper Physical Communication Facilities:
Nearly fifty percent of the villages in the country do not have all weather roads. Physical
communication of these villages is highly expensive. Even today most villages in the
eastern parts of the country are inaccessible during the monsoon. Morever, 3,00,000
villages in the country have no access to telephones.
• Media for Rural Communication:
Among the mass media at some point of time in the late 50's and 60's radio was considered
to be a potential medium for communication to the rural people. Another mass media is
television and cinemas. Statistics indicate that the rural areas account for hardly 2000 to
3500 mobile theatres, which is far less when compared to the number of villages
• Many Languages and Dialects:
The number of languages and dialects vary widely from state to state, region to region and
probably from district to district. The messages have to be delivered in the local languages
and dialects. Even though the numbers of recognized languages are only 16, the dialects are
estimated to be around 850. it is difficult for marketers to design promotional strategies in
different languages and local dialects. Facilities such as phone , telegram , fax are less
developed in villages , adding to communication problems faced by marketers in
distribution of goods etc.
• Dispersed Market:
Rural areas are scattered and it is next to impossible to ensure the availability of a brand all
over the country. Seven Indian states account for 76% of the country's rural retail outlets,
the total number of which is placed at around 3.7 million. District fairs are periodic and
15

21. occasional in nature. Manufacturer and retailers prefer such occasions as they allow greater
visibility and capture the attention of the target audience for larger spans of time. The fairs
at Pushkar , Ujjain , Kota and Bulandshesher are major sources of attention for the rural
buyer but aren’t concentrated unlike urban markets. Advertising in such a highly
heterogeneous market, which is widely spread, is very expensive.
• Low Per Capita Income:
Even though about 33-35% of gross domestic product is generated in the rural areas it is
shared by 74% of the population. Morever, demand for goods in rural markets depends
upon the agricultural situation, as agriculture is the main source of income and agriculture
to a large extent depends upon the monsoon. Therefore the demand is not stable or regular.
Hence the per capita incomes are low compared to the urban areas.
• Low Levels of Literacy:
The literacy rate is low in rural areas as compared to urban areas. This again leads to
problem of communication for promotion purposes. Print medium becomes ineffective and
to an extent irrelevant in rural areas since its reach is poor and so is the level of literacy.
• Prevalence of spurious brands and seasonal demand:
For any branded product there are a multitude of 'local variants', which are cheaper, and,
therefore, more desirable to villagers. Rural consumers are cautious in buying and
decisions are slow. They like to give a product a trial and only after getting personal
satisfaction do they buy it again.
• Different way of thinking:
There is a vast difference in the lifestyles of the people. The kind of choices of brands that
an urban customer enjoys is different from the choices available to the rural customer. The
rural customer usually has 2 or 3 brands to choose from whereas the urban one has multiple
choices. The difference is also in the way of thinking. The rural customer has a fairly
simple thinking as compared to the urban counterpart. Life in rural areas is still governed
by customs and traditions and people do not easily adopt new practices.
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22. RURAL PRODUCT STRATEGIES
A Typical shop in rural India stocked with
sachets and various products.
The following are the product strategies for the rural market and rural consumers:
1. Small Unit Packing: This method stands a good chance of acceptance in rural
markets. The advantage is that the price is low and is easily affordable by the rural
consumer. Products like shampoos, pickles, biscuits, etc have tested this method.
2. New Product Designs: The manufacturer and the marketing men can think in terms
of new product designs, keeping in view the rural life style.
3. Sturdy Products: Sturdiness of the product either in terms of weight or appearance is
an important criterion for rural consumers. For the rural consumers, heavier weight means
that the product is more durable,
4. Utility Oriented Products: Rural consumers are more concerned with the utility of
the product and its appearance.
5. Brand Name: The rural consumers do give their own brand name on the name of an
item. A brand name or logo is very important for a rural consumer for identification
purposes.
Branding: Brand is the term, name, sign, symbol, design or a combination of them, which
helps to identify the seller products & identify them from competitor products. Its primary
17

23. purpose is creating an identity of the product. The brand names should be easily understood
& recognized by the rural consumer. Unfamiliar & absurd brand names cause hesitation in
the minds of the consumer. The rural brands are recognized through symbols, logos and
colours. E.g. -‘Billi waali cell’ - Battery with the cat as a symbol- Eveready.
Packaging: It is providing a container/wrapper for a product for the purpose of handling &
protection. The three levels are-
i.Primary package- To hold the product, e.g. bottles.
ii.Secondary package- To hold the primary package, e.g. cardboard boxes.
iii.Shipping package- To carry the secondary package from one place to another e.g.
corrugated boxes. All products need shipping package.
HLL has made ‘bubble pack’ shampoos. They are neither sachets nor bottles & works on
the principle of capillary action. The rural markets were kept in mind & this type of
package was developed keeping in mind the convenience of storage after use.
The following strategies must be adopted by a marketer launching a product in rural
markets.
1. The product for rural market has to be simpler and easy to use .
2 .The product has to be conveniently packaged for low price and convenient use. Sachets
were one of the popular methods through which companies targeted rural markets.
3 . The product literature has to be simple enough for the rural customer to understand.
There should be no product frills: only functional benefits should be communicated even
on the packs. Lack of information has led to rural folks finding alternative uses for the
same products.
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24. 4. Brand identity in rural markets is often created through the brands logo or the colour
of the product, at times even the taste of the product.
Packaging Strategies
Packaging is defining new paradigms in rural marketing, making it perhaps the most vital
component in marketing mix. According to the survey of National Council for Applied
Economics and Research (NCAER) in 1998, it is the low-income group which now
comprises of overwhelming majority of consumers for mass consumption products. The
study indicated that almost 90% of goods surveyed were purchased by people earning less
than 18,000 per annum. Marketers have realized, “To enter the rural market, it is necessary
to offer products at the lowest unit price”. At the same time, innovative packages are
necessary to add value to the premium products. Particularly, Innovations, which help
lower the price, are desirable. Small packs and combi-packs have become a major
attraction in rural India.
a) Small packs: The reasons for high preference to small pack low-unit prices are
(i) Affordability : The income of rural consumers is unsteady. The sources of income
as well as the size of income earned per day vary. They cannot hence make planned
purchases and large purchases. Small pack sizes help the rural consumer pick the product at
a price that he can afford.
(ii) Usage : Certain products like detergent and paste are bought in larger quantities,
whereas shampoos, toilet soaps, eatables are bought in small pack sizes. The reason for this
is: ‘The products that are common to family members are bought in large pack sizes
whereas individual-use products are preferred in small packs’.
(iii) Storability : The storage life of a product also has a bearing on this decision.
Edibles, for example, cannot last long unless preserved and kept under ideal conditions.
Further shelf space of rural consumers is also limited as they live in small huts or semi-
pucca houses.
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25. (iv) Benefits to Retailer : The small pack sizes are convenient to the retailer to do his
business and promote the national brands. The shelf space of rural retailers is less. He
cannot afford big premises. Small pack sizes do not demand shelf space.
(v) Display : Smaller sizes are easy to display. They increase the visual appeal they
carry compared to large ones, the colors on the smaller packs are looked at with more
interest.
(vi) Implications to marketers : Manufacturers prefer producing large pack sizes. The
economies of scale indicate that small pack sizes are less feasible. However, on the
marketing side, benefits are revealing.
• They induce strongly rural consumers to buy.
• Trail sales of national brands are on the rise.
• Regular sales are growing up for many products. The regional local players are
finding it difficult to face competition from the big players on their home turf.
b) Combi-packs: Another packaging innovation is ‘combi-packs ’. When related
products are packed together and sold at economy prices, the consumer finds it a better
option to buy. The combi-pack may become an assortment when more than two products
are packed together
c) See-through packs: Many companies are coming up with new packages that are
attractive as well as economical.
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26. RURAL PRICING STRATEGIES:
Pricing strategies are linked to product strategies. The product packaging and presentation
also keeps the price low to suit the rural consumer.
I. Low Cost/Cheap Products: This is a common strategy widely adopted by
manufacturing and marketing concerns wherein the price can be kept low by low unit
packing like paisa pack of tea, shampoo sachets, etc.
To decrease the cost and thereby the price, company adopts the following methods:-
1) Refill Packs/Reusable Packaging: Health drinks available in the urban areas. The
containers can be put to multipurpose uses, which can have a significant impact in the rural
market. E.g. tea, coffee & many other consumer goods re available in refill or reusable
packages.
2) Application of Value Engineering: In the food industry, Soya protein is being
used instead of milk protein. The nutrition content of both being the same, Milk protein is
expensive whereas Soya protein is cheaper. The basic aim being to reduce the value of the
product so it becomes affordable to a larger segment, thus expanding its market.
3) Discriminatory pricing:
Discriminatory pricing is employed to charge different customer groups differently
projecting differences in quality of offer.
a) Product from pricing: Different versions of product are priced differently
but not proportionately to their respective costs.
Eg: Beverages are offered in different sizes and packs. The unit price differs. New
Lipton Tazgi tea is available in 50 gms (Rs. 7.50), 100 gms (Rs. 14.50), 250 gms (Rs. 42)
and 500 gms (Rs. 84).
b) Location pricing: The same product is priced differently at different
locations through the cost of offering at each location is the same
21

27. c) Time Pricing: Prices are varied by day or season.
Eg: Umbrella is demanded in season so priced high during that time.
4) Penetration Pricing:
Penetration is chosen when market is highly price sensitive, and a low price stimulates
market growth. Products like Chik shampoo, Rin detergent penetrated the market with
lower prices in the initial stages and later went up the price ladder.
5) Value Pricing:
It involves setting prices reasonably at a lower level compared to competitors through
careful streamlining of operations to become a low-cost firm without sacrificing quality. It
involves human development, quality management, supply chain management, etc. In India
many companies are adopting this approach as the markets are saturated and competition
has intensified.
6) Psychological Pricing:
Some smart sellers quote their prices that end in an odd number e.g. Rs. 99.95 paise. It
conveys two notions.
i. There is a discount or bargain
ii. It belongs to a lower price range.
Eg;- Bata Shoe Company has been using this price tactics since long. It is present in both
Rural and Urban markets.
a) Reference Pricing: Marketers position and sell products at higher prices by
endorsement of products by celebrities, placing product along with classy products,
referring to the purchases made by aspiration or associate group members or by stating that
the current price is lower than the original one.
Eg: A shampoo is referred to Re 1, Match box at 50 paise , etc.
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28. RURAL PROMOTION STRATEGIES:
The promotion measure should be cost effective. Word of mouth is an important message
carrier in the rural areas and ‘opinion leader’ play a significant role in influencing the
prospective rural consumers about accepting or rejecting a product or a brand. Other
attributes are explained as under:
1. Mass Media: Mass media is a powerful medium of communication. The mass
media generally used are:
a. Television
b. Cinema
c. Radio
d. Print Media: handbills, booklets, posters, banners, etc.
2. Personal Selling and Opinion Leaders: In personal selling it is required that the
potential users are identified and awareness is created among them. A highly motivated
sales person can achieve this. Word of Mouth holds a lot of validity in the rural areas. This
is the reason why opinion leaders are thriving among rural consumers.
3. Special Campaigns: These should be undertaken during harvest & marketing
seasons in rural areas. E.g. Tractors owners meet (tonee) conducted by MRF.
Media Mix for Rural markets
The firm has to choose a combination of formal & non-formal media in the rural context.
Media is the channel for promotion of products in rural markets. The possibilities are
enlisted below:
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29. A) The Formal Organised Media:
1. T.V.: T.V is the prime medium for delivering a campaign’s Advertising message.
It has the potential to become the primary medium for rural communication, 77% of the
villages in India receive T. V. transmission & 27% of all rural people actually watch T. V.
E.g – HLL uses DD1 to promote its brands in rural areas through advertisements.
2. Cinema: 29% of rural people watch cinema as a part of their regular lifestyle.
Most villages have cinema house. Advertisements, documentaries combining knowledge
and entertainment can be employed for rural promotion of products. Eg – In western Indian
Villages film stars like Govinda have been used to promote “Wheel” of HLL.
3. Radio: It is a well-established Expansions in broadcasting facilities have taken
place over the years medium in rural areas. Radio has a reach of 99% of rural India..
FMCG’s brands mostly use radio in rural marketing.
4. POP’s: The POP’s point of purchase promotion tools area is quite useful in rural
markets. They should be designed to suit rural requirements, using symbols & bright
colours.
5. Print: Print is gaining dominance as a advertising medium because of the
increasing literacy levels amoung rural folk. Newspapers like Dainik Bhaskar, Navbharat
times, Eenadu and Malayala Manorma are very popular in Indian villages.
6. Outdoor: Many companies are using Hoardings, Wall Paintings, etc., as part of
their outdoor medium. Wall paintings are an effective and economical medium for
advertising in Rural areas. Eg: Some FMCG’s like HLL use wall-paintings to capture the
attendance of their audience for products as Wheel, Lifebuoy etc.
24

30. B) Informal/Rural Specific Media:
1. Music Records, Harikatha, and Puppet Shows: Music cassettes/records are a
very effective, inexpensive and appealing medium, which can be used in cinema houses
etc. where people gather regularly. The traditional art forms such as puppet shows,
harikathas render themselves for communication in rural society and can be used at melas.
2. Melas and Haats:- According to the Indian Market Research
Bureau, around 48000 haats and 25000 melas are held in rural India
every year and annual sales at melas amount to Rs.350 crore.
Besides these melas, rural markets have the practice of fixing
specific days in a week as Market Days when exchange of goods and
services are carried out. NCAER estimates half of these brands sold
at haats and melas are FMCG brands.
3.Wall Paintings:- Wall paintings are an effective and economical
medium for advertising in rural areas. They are long-lasting, and
remain as long as the weather permits. The message should be
clear. The best way of attracting attention is to use bright colours
that do not fade. Some FMCG’s like HLL, Pepsi, HMT use wall
painting to capture the attention of their audience.
A wall painting in rural area
4.Group Meeting, Demonstration, and House-to-House Campaigns: The promotion
staff of the firm can effectively carry the product messages and demonstrations to the target
audience at the group meetings. Promotion squads make house-to-house visits. They carry
along product samples and promotion literature along with them.
For eg:- HLL runs the program of Self-Help Groups (SHG), which
operate like direct-to-home distributors.
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31. 5.Audio Visual Publicity Vans (AV Vans): The AV unit is very
useful for rural communication. The firm can exhibit films,
presentations, slide shows etc. The van can be used for sales
campaigns in addition to promotions campaigns. They are quite
popular with rural marketing firms.
6.Syndicated AV Vans: In recent years, rural publicity vans have become a purchasable
service. Firms which afford to operate publicity vans of their own can utilize the syndicated
AV vans service offered by independent agencies.
7.Interpersonal Media: They have a special merit since they facilitate two-way
interactions. They also bring market feedback to the firm. Advantages of interpersonal
media are they are segment specific, market specific and score high when it comes to
participation and involvement of the audience.
8.Booklets/Calendars for Rural Areas: There are booklets in rural areas on folk heroes,
folk songs and religious activities. There are also rural calendars (Panchang) which are
effective promotion tools for rural advertisers. E.g Lifebouy prints Laxmi calendars with
soap packaging.
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32. RURAL DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES .
I. The Private Village Shops: Private shops are the
main channels in the rural market for a large variety of
products. They are also the cheapest and the most
convenient channel to align with.
The village shopkeeper is forced to deal in a large number
of products in order to make his operations viable, which
means a large inventory. The larger lead-time for
replenishments from urban based production point enlarges the inventory holding further.
And as his sales are not uniform throughout the year, he has to carry inventory over a
longer period of time, leading to the blocking up of his capital.
II. Satellite Distribution: A concept known as ‘Satellite Distribution’ can be tried in
developing a distribution channel in the rural market. Under this system, the firm appoints
stockist in feeder towns, who take care of financing, warehousing the goods and sub-
distribution of goods. The firm also appoints a number of retailers in and around the feeder
towns and attaches them to the stockist. The goods are supplied to the stockist either in
cash or credit or on consignment basis.
The sales volume of the retailers will vary depending on the potential of the area covered
and the capacity on the dealer concerned. Over a period of time, some retailers grow in
terms of business turnover. If such retail points also happen to be transportation centers
within the feeder town area, the firm elevates them as a stockist. The area of operation of
the original stockist shrinks in this process, but care has to be taken to see that his volume
of business does not shrink. This is achieved, in practice, on account of growth in demand
and deeper market penetration.
If twenty retailers operate in the network of an original stockist, five or six of them get
elevated over a period of time as stockist. Out of the retailers some remain attached to the
original stockist and other relevant factors. The process continues as long as the market
27

33. keeps expanding. And at any point of time, enough retail points in variably hover around or
particular stockist, hence the name ‘Satellite Distribution’.
The main advantage of this system is that it facilitates market penetration in the interiors of
market. However, the firm must ensure is that it facilitates market penetration in the
interiors of the market. The firm must ensure that in the process, the motivation of the
earlier generation stockist is not destroyed due to overzealous and premature elevation of
the retailers into stockist.
III. Syndicated Distribution
Channels of distribution are a major problem for a new company targeting the rural market
for the first time. The biggest problem a new company faces is that there are too many
levels in the channels (multiple-tier), and setting up a distribution channel for rural markets
is a costly proposition. Coca Cola India purchased the Parle brands (Thums Up, Limca,
etc.) for Rs. 550 crore in 1993 mainy to use Parle’s existing distribution network. But small
companies cannot afford to buy another company for distribution.
The solution for small companies : tie up with a leading company that already has a
presence in the rural market to distribute products through its distribution network. The
golden rule is the small companies should not deal in the same product that the leading
company sells.
A successful model of syndicated distribution is P&G using the rural distribution network
of Marico to sell Ariel, Tide, etc. In the initial stages, CavinKare uses the distribution
network of Amrutanjan Pain Balm for its Chik shampoo.
Other Possible Experiments
Marketers can use the existing pattern with adaptations when necessary, they can also
undertake new experiments in the field of rural distribution. Some strategies are discussed
here.
28

34. a) Integrated marketing outlets: There has been some discussion
recently on developing outlets in the rural market to sell a variety of
related products from the same point. The ‘package approach’ and
‘integrated marketing approach’ have been tried in some areas,
particularly in the field of marketing agricultural inputs. Such grouping of
products has some disadvantages. It may not necessarily contribute to
distribution efficiency. Though both these functions are related to agriculture, they call for
different types of resources, talents and facilities.
b) Combining ‘in’ and ‘out’ operation in rural marketing: In some sectors, rural
marketing outlets are already combining the two operations of buying and selling.
Cooperative marketing societies, in particular, help in the marketing of agricultural
products and supply agricultural products and supply agricultural inputs to farmers. They
also act as suppliers of credit in cooperatives with credit cooperative societies at the village
level. But whether it is wise to adopt this pattern to cover the entire marketing structure in
rural areas is a debatable point. The ‘in’ operations are quite different in nature from ‘out’
operations. The decision to combine or not will have to be taken depending on products
and individual dealers. However, the distribution infrastructure is common to the ‘in’ as
well as ‘out’ operations. One should always look for possibilities of combined planning and
action covering the two operations.
c) Rural supermarkets: It is quite likely that the supermarket
concept will sooner or later invade the rural market. Both
cooperative supermarkets and departmental stores could function
side by side.
29

35. Physical distribution
Physical Distribution is the process of delivering products to the marketing channels and
consumers. It encompasses the various activities involved in the physical flow of the
product, from the manufacturer to the consumer.
a) Transportation
The transportation infrastructure remains underdeveloped in rural India. India has railway
network, road transport, Waterways are an easy transport option in states like Kerala,
Jammu and Kashmir etc.
Strategies: Many marketers, like HLL and LG use animal carts to carry their goods. Mobile
traders are of immense help to FMCG companies that are penetrating rural India. There are
around two lakh mobile cycle traders in rural India, who sell brands like lifebuoy etc..
b) Communication
Communication plays a pivotal role in distribution for rural markets.
Strategies: Companies like ITC are using Internet (e-choupal). Others like n-Logue
Communications are harnessing the power of Internet for communication in rural areas. It
provides e-mail services in vernacular languages. Companies that are in rural markets can
take the help of such organizations and use them to communicate with dealers.
c) Warehousing
Companies find difficult to find suitable godowns in many parts of rural India. There are no
public warehousing facilities in the interiors of Rural India.
Strategies: HLL and ITC, the pioneers in rural marketing in India, have a fleet of delivery
vans for rural distribution. The vans take the products to retailers in every nook and corner
30

36. of the country. It is better for companies to have their own mobile warehouses rather than
using cooperative or central godowns. And thereby they save on the cost of constructing
warehouses of their own.
CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION
The various channels of distribution include ; Wholesaler, Retailer, Vans, Weekly Haats,
Bazaars and Shandies.
(i) Wholesalers
More than 70 per cent of the rural markets are still beyond the pale of direct distribution,
the consumer boom not withstanding. Since, wholesale trade in India has remained largely
unchanged over the years, there is a need to revitalize it.
The Indian wholesaler is principally a galla-kirana (food-grain) merchant who sustains
the belief that business is speculative rather than distributive in character. He is a
trader/commodity merchant rather than a distributor and therefore, tends to support a brand
during boom and withdraws support during slump. The reasons for this speculative
character and dormant role of wholesalers are:
• Indian market was largely sellers market. There was no need for active sales
approach.
• Companies laid more emphasis on retailers in urban areas, who are very large in
number. As a result of retail based distribution, wholesale-based distribution was
weakened.
• Rural markets were neglected by many. The occurrence of retail outlets was low.
Therefore many companies were dependent on wholesalers. Few companies operated
mobile vans to distribute products to village shopkeepers.
The current need is to activate and develop wholesaler of the adjoining market as a
distributor of products to rural retail outlets and build his loyalties to the company.
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37. It is necessary to adopt a conservative, go-slow approach. Overzealous marketers do not
like to depend on the uncertain loyalties of wholesalers. They may aggressively draw up
and implement direct service plans to reach retail outlets and village consumers. This will
adversely affect the interests of wholesalers.
(ii) Retailers
Village retailers have traditionally been amongst the most mobile of rural residents. Often
doubling up as money lenders, their occupation facilities multi person interaction in the
closed village society. As a result retailer plays the significant role:
(a) Credibility
He enjoys the confidence of the villagers. His views are accepted and followed by the rural
people whose awareness and media exposure levels are low. The urban retailer is not
trusted . He is seen as a businessman with s profit motto. His viewpoints are evaluated wit
other sources of information.
(b) Influence leader
His role as influence leader is indisputable. From tender twig of neem to washing powder,
retailer testimony has been vital part of the product adoption process. The role of urban
retailer, on the contrary, is weak. The urban consumers have numerous sources of
information. While the retailers opinion is sought it may not be hundred percent believed
and followed.
(c) Brand promoter
With the increasing number of brands in the place of commodities, concept selling has
come to a close. Brand choices are easy as the brand characteristics and benefits are
communicated through different promotion media. Despite the direct one-to-one
communication, the retailer remains the deciding factor to sell a particular brand. There are
no shelf displays or point of purchase influences. It is the retailer who helps in
identification and selection of brands.
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38. The presence and sales of spurious brands is an ample testimony to this view. “Higher
retail margins with lower end consumer prices, supported by pack formats identical to the
original, these spurious brands sell on the premise of maximum retailer push though
maiming returns to the retailers.” No promotion, ads, customer pull .. the retailer does all.
The urban retailer has a limited role as a brand promoter. He cannot directly ,
recommend the brands. He has to intelligently drive home his recommendations, as urban
consumers do not trust him completely. It is through shelf displays and incentive offers that
he has to push the brands.
(d) Relationship marketer
Village retailer practices relationship marketing. He caters to a set of buyers who have
incomes derivative from immovable land resources and would be static over a such longer
time span. The relationship could extend beyond three generations, backed by historical
credibility of the retailer as a product referral.
On the contrary, the urban retailer has to make an effort to adopt relationship marketing.
His customer base comprises largely the mobile service class prone to shift residence
atleast once, if not more, in less than a decade. This limits the time span and perspective of
the retailer-customer relationship.
(e) Harbinger of change
Village shopkeeper has not been merely a seller of wares. In an environment relatively
isolated from external developments, he has been harbinger of change. He is one of the
main sources of information and opinion as well as supplier of product and services. As
against this, we find urban retailer, wielding limited influence in changing the product
choices and quality of life of consumers.
The retail outlets are now in for a change with the corporate marketers finding then as
right places for promoting their products.
(iii) Vans
Marketers need to make more on- ground contact with their target audience as well as
make demonstration of products as consumers in rural markets rely on the 'touch and feel'
33

39. experience. One of the ways could be using company delivery vans which can serve both
the purposes. Mobile vans long since have an important place in distribution and promotion
of the products in villages.
(iv) Weekly haats, Bazaars , Shandies
The haats are the oldest outlets to purchase households goods and for trade. These markets
are very well organized with shopkeepers having pre-assigned spaces for them to sell their
wares. A typical market is an open field with ample space for displaying all sorts of goods.
Its location changes every week. These markets have different names in different regions.
But they are strikingly similar in what they sell. It is reported that there are, in all, about
47,000 haats held throughout the country.
(a) Merits
1. Convenience: The entire market can be related to large departmental stores in cities,
where the advantage is one stop shopping exercise. These outlets crop up every week,
providing consumers immense choice and prices.
2. Attractive: The weekend shopping is not only convenient but also entertaining. The
markets start early and will be over by lunch. Afterwards there will be entertainment. In
respect of transactions, it is an attractive place to those who want to buy second hand
durables and to those who prefer barter transactions. Further the freshness of the produce,
buying in bulk for, a week and the bargaining advantage attract the frugal and week long
hard working rural folk.
3. Availability: It is a market for every one and for everything. Household goods,
clothes, durables, jewellery, cattle, machinery, farming equipment, raw materials and a host
of products are available.
(b) Implications to Marketers : Pradeep Kashyap, Director, Mart, who has conducted
many studies on these markets observed:
“These markets have high potential that corporate are now waking up to”.
They offer good scope for distribution. For urban marketers, who have stockist and
distributors that don’t service remote areas, this form of selling can be a boon. A simple re-
distributorship arrangement can be worked out.
34

40. (v) Melas and Fairs
This is another low cost distribution channel available to the marketers. It is comparable
with urban events like Wills Trophy, India International Trade Fair (IITF), Sajavat or
Cnsumex in which audience participation varies from a few thousands to a few lakh people.
These melas are ancient and part of Indian cultural heritage.
Most of the fairs are associated with either a religious event or a festival. Among the
most famous melas in the mighty Kumbh Mela at Allahbad (Triveni Sangam), Pushkar
mela Rajasthan, Kullu Dusshera mela in Himachal Pradesh, Sonepur mela in Bihar and
Makar Vilakku in Kerala. People from all over the country gather to taste the wonders of
India. According to the Indian Market research Bureau (IMRB) around 8000 melas are held
in rural India every year year and annual sales at melas amount to Rs.3,500 crore.
According to Rural Scan (Quarterly News letter by MICA (Mundra institute of
Communications, Ahmedabad) there are on an average, 1000 melas held in a state
annually. The average duration of a mela is anywhere from one to 45 days.
At a mela there can be as many as 854 stalls. Some 18.4 per cent of these are local stalls
(belonging to a few hundred villages), 40.8 per cent are regional (they belong to a few
districts ) and 40.8 per cent are national. An interesting statistic is that the share of
manufactured goods at melas in around 42 per cent.
Like urban events these melas need little or no pre-publicity. They have come to
occupy a firm position in the rural calendar of festivities. Most of the fairs are associated
with a religious event or a festival. As with religious events, the dates of most fairs are
determined by the Hindu calendar, not the Gregorian one. Most fairs are expressions of
local need to celebrate. A villager, who has attended it since childhood looks forward to it
month in advance.
A majority of the melas are held during October-November and January-April. This
coincides with the Kharif and Rabi harvests when the Farmer’s purchasing power is high.
With both money and leisure at hand, he is inclined to indulge his family with a day out at
35

41. the mela. He also looks forward to updating himself on the latest farming practices and on
consumer goods. Visitors to fairs are thus highly receptive to try out new products and also
come with enough money to do so.
Besides these melas, rural markets have the practice of fixing specific days in a
week as Market Days when exchange of goods and services are carried out. Also, every
region consisting of several villages is generally served by one satellite town where people
prefer to go to buy their durable commodities.
The problems faced by companies in Rural Distribution are as follows:-
1) Multiple tiers, Higher Cost and Administration Problems: The distribution chain in
the rural context requires a large number of tiers as compared to the urban context. In the
rural context, at the minimum level the chain needs the village shopkeeper, the wholesaler,
etc., whereas at the top level involves the manufacturer’s own warehouses, office
operations at selected centers. Such multiple tiers make channel management a major
problem area.
2) Scope for Manufacturer’s own Outlets Limited: Greater Dependence on Dealers:
Scope for manufacturer’s direct outlets such as depots or showrooms is limited in rural
markets unlike in the urban context since it is expensive and unmanageable.
36

42. 3) Non-Availability of Dealers: There is also a problem of availability of dealers. Suitable
dealers are limited even if the firm is willing to start from scratch and try out rank
newcomers; the choice of candidates is limited.
4) Poor Viability of Retail Outlets: Sales outlets suffer from poor viability in the rural
market. Scattered nature of market and the multiplicity of tiers in the chain use up the
additional funds the manufacturer is prepared to part with. Moreover the business volume
is not adequate enough to sustain the profitability of all groups and the retail tier is the
worst sufferer.
5) Inadequate Bank Facilities: Due to lack of bank and credit facilities distribution in
rural markets is handicapped. Rural outlets need banking support for 3 important purposes;
-In facilitating remittances to principals and to get fast replenishment of stocks.
-In receiving supplies ‘through bank’ (retiring documents with the bank).
-In facilitating securing credit from banks.
It is estimated that there is only one bank branch for every 50 villages.
6) Inadequate Credit Facilities from Banks: Another constraint is the inadequacy of
institutional credit. Rural outlets are unable to carry adequate stocks due to lack of credit
facilities. The vicious circle of lack of credit facilities leading to inadequate stocking and
loss of business, finally result in poor viability of outlets, getting perpetuated.
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43. Hindustan Lever Limited.
Introduction.
Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer
Goods company, touching the lives of two out of three Indians with over 20
distinct categories in Home & Personal Care Products and Foods &
Beverages. They endow the company with a scale of combined volumes
of about 4 million tonnes and sales of Rs.10,000 crores.
HLL is also one of the country's largest exporters; it has been recognised as a Golden Super
Star Trading House by the Government of India.
The mission that inspires HLL's 36,000 employees, including over 1,350 managers, is to
"add vitality to life." HLL meets everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care
with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. It is a mission
HLL shares with its parent company, Unilever, which holds 51.55% of the equity. The rest
of the shareholding is distributed among 380,000 individual shareholders and financial
institutions.
HLL's brands - like Lifebuoy, Lux, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Fair & Lovely, Pond's, Sunsilk,
Clinic Plus, Pepsodent, Close-up, Lakme, Brooke Bond, Kissan, Knorr-Annapurna,
Kwality Wall's – are household names across the country and span many categories -
soaps, detergents, personal products, tea, coffee, branded staples, ice cream and culinary
products. They are manufactured in close to 80 factories. The operations involve over
2,000 suppliers and associates.
HLL's distribution network, comprising about 7,000 redistribution stockists, directly
covers the entire urban population, and about 250 million rural consumers.
HLL believes that an organization’s worth is also in the service it renders to the
community. HLL is focusing on health & hygiene education, women empowerment, and
38

44. water management. It is also involved in education and rehabilitation of special or
underprivileged children, care for the destitute and HIV-positive, and rural development.
HLL has also responded in case of national calamities / adversities and contributes through
various welfare measures, most recent being the village built by HLL in earthquake
affected Gujarat, and relief & rehabilitation after the Tsunami caused
devastation in South India.
HLL STRATEGY.
The Rs 11,000 crore Hindustan lever (HLL) is formulating a new strategy to expand its
presence in India’s Rural markets. HLL is one among those companies in the country that
derives huge revenues (over 50%) from the rural areas. But in the past one-year, owing to
the failure of the monsoon in many parts of the country farmers have registered a
substantial fall in incomes and consequently the purchasing power. For the company this
has resulted in a flat growth of these markets. Witnessing the flat sales growth in rural
areas. HLL has shifted its rural markets strategy. Earlier each business division of the
company dealt with the rural market on an individual basis; now the shift in strategy means
the company will deal with rural markets as a single organization to achieve greater
penetration and sales. This approach is expected to lead to better cohesion, greater push and
deeper penetration which would eventually lead to better sales. HLL officials say it is not
enough that individual business divisions push their own strategies for rural market; the
company will have to work in unison in order to achieve a balanced growth.
Over the last three years the company has embarked on an ambitious programme,
Shakti. Through Shakti, HLL is creating micro-enterprise opportunities for rural women,
thereby improving their livelihood and the standard of living in rural communities. Shakti
also includes health and hygiene education through the Shakti Vani Programme, and
creating access to relevant information through the i-Shakti community portal. The
programme now covers about 50,000 villages in 12 states. HLL's vision is to take this
programme to 100,000 villages impacting the lives of
over a 100 million rural Indians.
39

45. HLL is also running a rural health programme – Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetana. The
programme endeavors to induce adoption of hygienic practices among rural Indians and
aims to bring down the incidence of diarrhoea. It has already touched 70 million people in
approximately 15000 villages of 8 states. The vision is to make a billion Indians feel safe
and secure. If Hindustan Lever straddles the Indian corporate world, it is because of being
single-minded in identifying itself with Indian aspirations and needs in every walk of life
How HLL entered India?
Over 100 years' link with India.
In the summer of 1888, visitors to the Kolkata harbour noticed crates full of Sunlight
soap bars, embossed with the words "Made in England by Lever Brothers". With it, began
an era of marketing branded Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) in India.
HLL was started in 1895 with the launch of Lifebuoy in 1895 and other famous brands
like Pears, Lux and Vim. Vanaspati was launched in 1918 and the famous Dalda brand
came to the market in 1937.
In 1931, Unilever set up its first Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing
Company, followed by Lever Brothers India Limited (1933) and United Traders Limited
(1935). These three companies merged to form HLL in November 1956; HLL offered 10%
of its equity to the Indian public, being the first among the foreign subsidiaries to do so.
Unilever now holds 51.55% equity in the company. The rest of the shareholding is
distributed among about 380,000 individual shareholders and financial institutions.
The erstwhile Brooke Bond's presence in India dates back to 1900. By 1903, the
company had launched Red Label tea in the country. In 1912, Brooke Bond & Co. India
Limited was formed. Brooke Bond joined the Unilever fold in 1984 through an
international acquisition. The erstwhile Lipton's links with India were forged in 1898.
Unilever acquired Lipton in 1972, and in 1977 Lipton Tea (India) Limited was
incorporated.
40

46. Pond's (India) Limited had been present in India since 1947. It joined the Unilever fold
through an international acquisition of Chesebrough Pond's USA in 1986.
Since the very early years, HLL has vigorously responded to the stimulus of economic
growth. The growth process has been accompanied by judicious diversification, always in
line with Indian opinions and aspirations.
In one of the most visible and talked about events of India's corporate history, the
erstwhile Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) merged with HLL, effective from April 1,
1993. In 1995, HLL and yet another Tata company, Lakme Limited, formed a 50:50 joint
venture, Lakme Lever Limited, to market Lakme's market-leading cosmetics and other
appropriate products of both the companies. Subsequently in 1998, Lakme Limited sold its
brands to HLL and divested its 50% stake in the joint venture to the company.
HLL formed a 50:50 joint venture with the US-based Kimberly Clark Corporation in 1994,
Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd, which markets Huggies Diapers and Kotex Sanitary Pads.
HLL has also set up a subsidiary in Nepal, Nepal Lever Limited (NLL), and its factory
represents the largest manufacturing investment in the Himalayan kingdom. The NLL
factory manufactures HLL's products like Soaps, Detergents and Personal Products both for
the domestic market and exports to India.
The 1990s also witnessed a string of crucial mergers, acquisitions and alliances on the
Foods and Beverages front. In 1992, the erstwhile Brooke Bond acquired Kothari General
Foods, with significant interests in Instant Coffee. In 1993, it acquired the Kissan business
from the UB Group and the Dollops Icecream business from Cadbury India.
As a measure of backward integration, Tea Estates and Doom Dooma, two plantation
companies of Unilever, were merged with Brooke Bond. Then in July 1993, Brooke Bond
India and Lipton India merged to form Brooke Bond Lipton India Limited (BBLIL),
enabling greater focus and ensuring synergy in the traditional Beverages business. 1994
witnessed BBLIL launching the Wall's range of Frozen Desserts. By the end of the year,
the company entered into a strategic alliance with the Kwality Icecream Group families and
in 1995 the Milkfood 100% Icecream marketing and distribution rights too were acquired.
Finally, BBLIL merged with HLL, with effect from January 1, 1996. The internal
restructuring culminated in the merger of Pond's (India) Limited (PIL) with HLL in 1998.
The two companies had significant overlaps in Personal Products, Specialty Chemicals and
41

47. Exports businesses, besides a common distribution system since 1993 for Personal
Products. The two also had a common management pool and a technology base.
In January 2000, in a historic step, the government decided to award 74 per cent equity
in Modern Foods to HLL, thereby beginning the divestment of government equity in public
sector undertakings (PSU) to private sector partners. HLL's entry into Bread is a strategic
extension of the company's wheat business. In 2002, HLL acquired the government's
remaining stake in Modern Foods.
In 2003, HLL acquired the Cooked Shrimp and Pasteurised Crabmeat business of the
Amalgam Group of Companies, a leader in value added Marine Products exports.
42

48. Highlights of HLL Marketing Strategy.
There was an interview conducted with Mr. Shubramanyam Bhattacharya who
is the Sales Team Manager of HLL Belapur Branch. He highlighted on the
following points connected to rural markets where HLL serves. He said firstly
that:-
Mission of HLL :- To Make it products reach to the consumer where he wants it.
The product must be such that impacts daily life and change their living standards.
Their main purpose is to provide hygienic conditions to rural consumers and upgrade their
standards with their products .
The goal is to reach 2,35,000 villages, up from the current 85,000; 75 per cent of the
population, up from 43 per cent today; and a message reach of 65 per cent, up from the
current television reach of 33 per cent. The company is expressly aiming at reaching
villages with populations less than 2,000. The rural penetration exercise is going to be
complemented by a 15-per cent hike in advertisement expenditure. HLL is trying to reach
the potential market of 75% of rural areas. This is possible only if the disposable income in
the hands of rural consumer is increased. The GDP is 26% currently of rural areas and is
need to be increased. Currently rural consumers spend 6% on household’s products which
are produced by HLL. This should be increased to 8% . This growth is possible only with
increasing disposable income of rural consumer. The Rural people need to channelise their
aspirational needs combined with functional needs. In rural areas the Functional Need takes
the First Stage.
Functional needs means the product required by consumer for a specified function. Eg:-
For Health & Hygeine – Lifebuoy , Clinic plus are the functional products. Aspirational
need means the product required by consumer for fullfiling an aspiration. Eg:- Lux is an
Aspirational Need its an Emotional Attachment to consumers.
HLL launched certain products which are Functional and Specified in Nature . It launched
Anti-Dandruff Shampoo- Clinic All Clear. It staged Health as a function and specifically
for removing Dandruff.
43

49. Product Mix of HLL.
HLL is India's largest marketer of Soaps, Detergents and Home Care products. It has the
country’s largest Personal Products business, leading in Shampoos, Skin Care Products,
Colour Cosmetics and Deodorants. HLL is also the market leader in Tea, Processed Coffee,
branded Wheat Flour, Tomato Products, and Ice cream, Soups, Jams and Squashes.
Home & Personal Care
• Personal Wash
• Fabric Wash
• Home Care
• Oral Care
• Skin Care
• Hair Care
• Deodorants & Talcs
• Colour Cosmetics
Foods
• Tea
• Coffee
• Branded Staples
• Culinary Products
• Ice Creams
• Modern Foods ranges
Personal Wash
Soaps
Some of the big brands in Soaps in rural markets are Lifebuoy, Lux, Liril, Hamam, Breeze,
Dove, and Rexona.
1) Lifebuoy.
Making a billion Indians feel safe and secure by meeting their health
and hygiene needs is the mission of Lifebuoy.
The world's largest selling soap offers a compelling health benefit to the
entire family. Launched in 1895, Lifebuoy, for over a 100 years, has
been synonymous with health and value.
44

50. The brick red soap, with its perfume and popular Lifebuoy
jingle, has carried the Lifebuoy message of health across the
length and breadth of the country.
The 2002 and 2004 relaunches have been turning points in its history. The new mix
includes a new formulation and a repositioning to make it more relevant to both new and
existing consumers. Lifebuoy is now a milled toilet soap with a new health fragrance and a
contemporary shape. The new milled formulation offers a significantly superior bathing
experience and skin feel. This new mix has registered conclusive and clear preference
among existing and new users.
The new Lifebuoy is targeted at today's discerning
housewife with a more inclusive "family health
protection for my family and me" positioning. Lifebuoy
has made a deliberate shift from the male, victorious
concept of health to a warmer, more versatile, more responsible benefit of health for the
entire family. At the upper end of the market, Lifebuoy offers specific health benefits
through Lifebuoy Gold and Plus. Lifebuoy Gold (also called Care) helps protect against
germs which cause skin blemishes, while Lifebuoy Plus offers protection against germs
which cause body odour
2) Lux.
Lux stands for the promise of beauty and glamour as one of
India's most trusted personal care brands. Lux continues to be
a favorite with generations of users for the experience of a
sensuous and luxurious bath.
Since its launch in India in the year 1929, Lux has offered a range of soaps in different
sensuous colors and world class fragrances. 2003 saw one of the biggest milestones in the
history of Lux. From being just a beauty soap of film stars, Lux recognized the need for a
compelling message about beauty that would resonate with women of today. Lux is
45

51. available in four different variants – Exotic flower petals and Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil and
Milk Cream, Fruit Extracts and Honey in Milk Cream and Sandal Saffron in Milk Cream.
3) Liril.
For 28 years, freshness has been clearly identified with one name – Liril.
Liril expressions have always set trends whether it is a bathing
beauty in a waterfall or "Oof Yu Maa!" The energy and excitement
levels associated with the brand have to be experienced to be believed
with changing times. Presently, Liril Soft Aloe Vera & Lime, Liril Icy
Cool and Liril Orange splash are making waves.
4) Hamam.
When it comes to soaps, Hamam is considered to be the most
reliable option. Launched in 1934, Hamam has traditionally
been a soap that takes care of your skin in a natural way.
According to a research conducted By Indica Research in
May 2003, 78% of Doctors in Tamil Nadu recommend
Hamam. Besides being a perfectly balanced soap, Hamam takes on a very modern and
trendy look. Hamam's enhanced fragrance now provides a longer lasting freshness. The
new attractive oval shaped Hamam comes in an attractive and modern packaging. The
ingredients that are used in Hamam - Neem, Tulsi and Aloe Vera - by themselves have
great therapeutic values. Hamam, the brand is very true to its tagline that says,
"Everything in life is about balance".
5) Breeze.
Breeze Scent Magic is the soap which fulfills the aspirations
of women of rural India. Breeze has offered them 'beauty at
an affordable price', making them look and feel beautiful.
46

52. Research and consumer visits have shown that the desire for great fragrance featured
highest in the daily beauty regime of discount-soap users. Breeze explores this through the
proposition of 'scent in a soap-Scent ka kamaal, ab sabun mein' and explicitly propagates
the brand promise of the "Hameshaa kuchh extra". It delivers all this and still matches
consumer's needs in terms of price and quantity offered, staying true to its word.
Breeze has been enriched with 19 special scent oils, which ensure that one smells good for
a long time through the day. Introduced in variants like Scent Magic, Scent Magic Lime,
and Scent Magic Sandal, Breeze strives towards fulfilling the company's mission of being
inventive in creating value.
6) Dove.
Dove soap, which was launched by Unilever in 1957, has been available in India since
1995. It provides a refreshingly real alternative for women who recognize that beauty is not
simply about how you look, it is about how you feel.
The skin's natural pH is slightly acidic 5.5-6. Ordinary soaps tend to be alkaline, with pH
higher than 9. Dove is formulated to be pH neutral (pH between 6.5 and 7.5) and to be mild
on skin. This makes it suitable for all skin types for all seasons. While Dove soap bar is
widely available across the country, Dove Body Wash is available in select outlets. Dove is
not in much use in rural because it is very costly i.e. Rs.40 . But it is made available to rural
consumers if demanded through Urban Channels.
7) Rexona.
Rexona is one of India's pioneer brands in family soaps. Launched in 1947, it was
positioned as a natural skin care soap to give silky, glowing skin. Since then the product
has been constantly improved to keep up with the expectations of the consumers. Rexona is
much in demand in rural markets of Southern India.In 1989 coconut was introduced in
Rexona for the first time to strengthen the overall skincare appeal of the brand. Rexona has
now been relaunched with cucumber extracts, in addition to coconut oil and moisturising
47

53. milk cream. Its creamy lather purifies the skin, leaving it clear and flawless. It has also
been enhanced with a perfume that lingers well after a bath.
Fabric Wash
The Indian fabric wash market consists of synthetic detergents (comprising bars, powder
and liquids) and oil-based laundry soaps.
Some of the big brands in Detergents are Surf Excel, Surf, Rin, Wheel (the number one
detergent brand in India, and HLL's largest), 501, Sunlight .
1) Wheel.
Wheel is India's number one detergent brand. Launched in 1987, it cleans effectively with
lesser effort, making a laborious chore like washing light and easy. Moreover, Wheel does
not burn hands or harm clothes like some other detergents, which contain a high
percentage of soda.
Ever since its relaunch in 2001, with the new positioning of 'best clean with less effort',
Wheel has been growing strongly. Research showed that consumers seek a solution to
heavy duty laundry, like bed sheets and curtains. Developing on this insight, wheel sought
to eliminate the trouble of tough dirt or heavy-duty laundry. Mass market consumers have
welcomed the solution, making it the number one
48

54. Wheel includes under it the following brands:-
1. Wheel Green bar
2. Wheel Active(Blue) bar
3. Wheel Green Powder
4 .Wheel Active(Blue) Powder
2) Surf excel.
A pioneer in the Indian detergent powder
market, Surf Excel has constantly upgraded
Today Surf Excel offers outstanding stain
removal ability on a wide range of stains. This
means that mothers now have the freedom to let their kids experience life without worrying
about stains.
Surf Excel quick wash is powered with a path-breaking technology-
it reduces water consumption and time taken for rinsing by 50%. It is
a significant benefit, given the acute water scarcity in most of India.
Surf Excel is available in 3 variants: Surf Excel Blue, Surf Excel
Quick Wash and Surf Excel Automatic. So whatever be the need,
Surf Excel hai na.
3) Rin.
Every Indian woman will tell you how her clothes dazzle with
the power of Rin. The lightning flash mnemonic with the
famous baseline 'Whiteness Strikes with Rin' is remembered
till date. The dazzling flash of light has become a synonym
with the brand, ever since this iconic brand was launched in 1969.
With the launch of 'Rin Advanced', the brand has elevated its relationship with its
consumers to a higher plane, reaffirming their faith in the brand, by giving them superior
49

55. cleaning, incomparable white clothes and self-confidence which comes only from wearing
spotless clean clothes!
Rin has sub-brands like Rin Shakti and Rin Advanced.
4) Sunlight.
Sunlight is a brand of HLL mostly popular in rural areas mainly Kerala and the states near
coast lines. It is an Oil based laundry soap. It is available in form of Powder.
5) Vim.
HLL also markets Vim Bar. Vim is a ‘bartan bar’ used to
wash utensils. It is there in markets since 15 years.
6) Okay.
Okay is also a brand of HLL. It is a low price product mainly used by rural consumers. It is
available in the form of OKAY Powder and OKAY Bar.
Personal Care
The products that would be included in this category are as follows:-
1) Sunsilk.
Launched in 1964, Sunsilk is the largest beauty shampoo brand in
the country. Positioned as the 'Hair Expert', Sunsilk has identified
different hair needs and offers the consumer a shampoo that gives
her the desired results. The benefits are more compelling and
relevant since the variants are harmonised in terms of the product mix - fragrance, colour
50

56. and ingredients are all well linked to cue the overall synergy. The range comes in premium
packaging and design. The accent is on "It knows you, and hence knows exactly what your
hair needs".
2) Clinic plus.
Clinic Plus Health shampoo was launched in India in the year 1987. It is India's
largest selling shampoo, offering the five most important hair health benefits:
strengthens weak hair, prevents hair breakage, softens rough dry hair, shine for
thick and healthy hair, and contains anti-dandruff ingredient.
The franchise also includes Clinic All Clear Total, first introduced in 1996. It is
a dual shampoo – it not only fights the last dandruff flake, but also adds back
lost nutrients to make hair healthy and beautiful. Clinic All Clear Total is a
dandruff solution for everyday use. It is also available in 1Rs Sachets for
convenience of rural consumers.
3) Pepsodent.
Pepsodent, launched in 1993, was the first toothpaste with a unique
anti-bacterial agent to address the consumer need of checking
germs even hours after brushing. Pepsodent packs included a Germ
Indicator in February-May 2002, which allowed consumers to see the efficacy in fighting
germs for themselves. As a follow-up, in October 2002, Pepsodent offered Dental
Insurance to all its consumers to demonstrate the confidence the company has in the
technical superiority of the product.
Pepsodent connects directly with kids and their parents.
Pepsodent has always worked in the direction of an overall
awareness of dental health. The relaunch campaign in
October 2003 widened the context to "sweet and sticky" food and leveraged the truth that
children do not rinse their mouths every time they eat, demonstrating that this makes their
51

57. teeth vulnerable to germ attack. Pepsodent's most recent campaign aims at educating
consumers on the need for germ protection through the night. Pepsodent also includes a
range of toothbrushes
4) Close up.
Close-up is the original youth brand in India – the first brand
targeting youth in the oral care market. Ever since its launch in 1975,
Close-up has broken every rule in the book on how toothpastes
should behave! Close-up was the first gel toothpaste to be launched
in India and has led the gel toothpaste segment ever since. In 2004, Close-up was
relaunched with a bang. And this time it was packed
with the power of Vitamin Fluoride System – a
powerful mix of Vitamins, Fluoride, Mouthwash and
Micro whiteners, the perfect combination of
ingredients for fresher breath and stronger, whiter teeth. Close-up is now the first Gel
toothpaste with Fluoride in the Indian Market! Close-up also includes toothbrushes
Skin care
The products included in skin care rang are as follows:-
1) Fair n lovely.
A woman's passion for beauty is universal and catering to this strong need
is Fair & Lovely. Based on a revolutionary breakthrough in skin lightening
technology, Fair & Lovely was launched in 1978. Fair n lovely is also very
popular among the Rural woman’s. It is selling well in rural areas.
Fair & Lovely is formulated with optimum levels of UV sunscreens and Niacinamide that
is known to control dispersion of melanin in the skin. It is a patented and proprietary
formulation, which has been in the market for 25 years. The UV components of the
formulation are scientifically chosen and used at optimum levels to provide wide spectrum
protection against UV rays of the sun. Specifically, this patented formulation offers a high
52

58. UVA protection, which is more relevant to Asian skin than plain SPF protection creams
sold in the West. All the active ingredients in the Fair & Lovely formulation function
synergistically to lighten skin colour through a process that is natural, reversible and totally
safe.
The brand today offers a substantive range of
products, including Ayurvedic Fair & Lovely
Fairness cream, Fair & Lovely Anti-Marks
cream, Fair & Lovely Oil control Fairness
Gel, Fair & Lovely for Deep Skin and Fair &
Lovely Fairness Soap. The latest has been the Perfect Radiance, a complete range of 12
premium skincare solutions from Fair & Lovely.
2) Ponds.
Pond's has been synonymous with skin care in India since
1947.The impressive track record of Pond's began when There
on the Pond, a pharmacist from Utica New York, introduced
'Pond's Golden Treasure' in 1846, a witch-hazel based wonder
product. In 1914, Pond's Cold Cream and Vanishing Cream
marked the brand's evolution to a beauty icon. In 1955 Pond's Extract Company merged
with Chesebrough Manufacturing and in 1987 Unilever purchased Chesebrough-Pond's. By
this time the Pond's brand had built up a powerful international presence.
From one man in a tiny home-made laboratory, to today's state of the art R&D facilities led
from Bangkok, Mumbai, New York and Tokyo, the Pond's promise has remained the same
across 58 countries - to deliver products that make a real difference to women's skin and
the way they live their lives.
53

59. Foods and Beverages
The food and beverages includes the following range of products:-
1) Brooke bond.
In a nation of tea drinkers, the one brand that signifies tea in India is Brooke Bond
– ever since the launch of Brooke Bond Red Label in 1903. It is India's single
largest tea brand. It has touched millions of consumers with a range
of tea offerings appealing to the diversity of their tastes. It has the
strongest foothold amongst any of the tea brands in India and touches
the homes of over 500 million consumers.
To de-commoditise the tea category, Brooke Bond is focusing its efforts on building four
powerful sub-brands, namely, Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, Brooke Bond Red Label, Brooke
Bond Taaza & Brooke Bond 3 Roses. The range offers a full variety of propositions as well
as price points to appeal to various sections. The tea is very popular in rural markets.
2) BRU coffee.
Bru, launched in 1969, created history in the first year of
launch by growing to a record market share of 21%. Ever
since, it has grown from strength to strength.
Bru has been instrumental in virtually creating the entire
Instant Coffee category as it exists today. It has been at the forefront of most innovations in
the Instant Coffee category - whether in coffee-chicory blends, refill packaging, vending
operations, or more recently the Low-unit-price packs. Bru coffee is very famous in rural
markets of south. The Bru franchise also includes the Bru Roast & Ground, India's most
popular Roast & Ground Coffee brand, and Bru Malabar Roast & Ground which is
available in select geographies.
54

60. 3) Kissan.
Acquired by Hindustan Lever Limited in 1994, the Kissan
category consists of 'deliciously wholesome products for kids
to grow up.'
The Kissan range consists of ketchup and other sauces, jams,
squashes and ready-to-drink products. For mothers and
children, Kissan is today one of the most trusted brands in the country. Kissan products
also sell in rural markets. Kissan continues to be a pioneer in the categories that it operates
in.
4) Knorr Annapurna Salt.
Knorr Annapurna Salt, first introduced in 1997, was relaunched in
2001 with a breakthrough technology, patented in India and several
other countries. This technology helps encapsulate iodine with salt.
It thereby prevents the loss of iodine from salt, either during its
storage
and transportation or cooking.
Iodine deficiency is a serious health issue in India. About 278
million people are at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency not only leads to
goiter, but also has an impact on the mental development of growing children.
The International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) has
endorsed Knorr Annapurna Salt. Knorr Annapurna has also taken initiatives to educate
consumers about the benefits of iodine and its effect on the mental
development of growing children.
In 2001, it was fortified with iron and vitamins. The benefit is very relevant because over
60% of women and children are iron deficient. The brand is doing well in Rural markets.
55

61. Pricing strategy of HLL.
Hindustan Lever has taken many initiatives over the decades to create markets in the rural
hinterlands. By marketing relevant products, at affordable prices. HLL aims at providing
rural consumer a price which is acceptable and affordable by them. HLL adopts low unit
pricing as it targets rural consumer. It sells products mostly in the price range of 1Rs –
10Rs. HLL has adopted a strategy which offers rural consumer Volume point to Price point
packages mostly priced at Rs 10 as it is better connected to Rural consumer.
The strategic price point of HLL is Rs5 and Rs 10 and the price at this points are not hiked
even with an increase in price of products. If products have to come up the order in the
rural purchase hierarchy, they have to be affordable. If rural India today accounts for about
half of detergents sales, it is because HLL has developed low-cost value-for-money
branded products, like Wheel. The company has also taken initiatives to create markets
even for apparently premium products, by offering them in pack sizes, like sachets, whose
unit prices are within the reach of rural consumers. Pricing helps in synchronizing the
expenditure of the Indian consumers with his daily stream of income.
For example, initiated in the 1980s, sachets (Rs.2, Re.1,or 50 paise) today constitute about
55% of Hindustan Lever's shampoo sales. With media reach gradually increasing, rural
consumers today, where the media has its footprints, share the same aspirations with their
urban counterparts. HLL has responded to the trend with low unit price packs of even other
products as follows;-
Lux at Rs.5,
Lifebuoy at Rs.2,
Surf Excel sachet at Rs.1.50,
Pond's Talc at Rs.5,
Pepsodent toothpaste at Rs. 5,
Fair & Lovely Skin Cream at Rs.5,
Pond's Cold Cream at Rs.5.
56

62. Promotion strategies of HLL.
HLL follows various media mix of conventional and Non-conventional media for
promotions of its products in the rural markets. Hindustan Lever has taken initiatives to
circumvent the limitation in communication channels, by innovatively leveraging non-
conventional media. Among them the most commonly used forms of media by HLL are
wall paintings, cinema vans, weekly markets (haat), fairs and festivals etc. The various
forms include following:-
1. Advertisements through T.V. and Radio which provides a wider coverage of
consumers.
2. Wall painting that are used to capture the attention of the audience
and is an economic medium. It uses wall paintings for its products as Wheel,
Lifebuoy etc. The wall painting of Lifebuoy is displayed.
3. Cinema theatre’s and vans as rural consumer's fascinated by
cinema and it has great impact on them and a wider reach. The cinema vans show popular
movies, interspersed with products advertisements
4. Puppet shows where the puppets are used to communicate the ideas and values to
rural consumer and is an inexpensive medium.
5. Folk theatre is used for informing and educating people about some products
through Tamasha’s, skits and plays.
6. Weekly markets, fairs and festivals are parts and parcel of rural life. They give
an opportunity to address consumers, spread over many tiny hamlets, at one location.
7. Demonstrations are done about products at various occasions which are used to
demonstrate product benefits and also sell such products. Such demonstrations have played
a significant role in creating, for example, the detergents market in rural India. In recent
times, such demonstrations are being deployed by HLL to illustrate how visible clean is not
hygienic clean, and how using soap is essential to prevent easily avoidable infections.
Communication through fairs and festivals are backed by direct consumer contact.
57

63. For Eg: in 1998-99, Hindustan Lever implemented a major direct consumer contact, called
Project Bharat, which covered 2.2 crore homes. Each home was given a box, at a special
price of Rs.15, comprising a low unit price pack of shampoo, talcum powder, toothpaste
and skin cream, along with educational leaflets and audio-visual demonstrations. The
project has helped eliminate barriers to trial, and has strengthened salience of both
particular categories and brands.
In 2002, Hindustan Lever has launched a similar large-scale direct contact, called
Lifebuoy Swasthya Chetana, which already covers 70 million people in 18,000 villages
of 8 states. The project is intended at generating awareness about health and hygiene
practices and specifically how a simple habit of washing hands is essential to maintaining
good health. The initiative involves interaction with students and senior citizens who act as
change agents or opinion leaders that influence rural consumer. The programme has as of
now covered about 15000 villages in 8 states - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West
Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra; it has already touched
about 70 million people, imparting hygiene education to over 25 million children.
58

64. Distribution strategies of HLL.
In rural India particularly, availability determines volumes and market share, because the
consumer usually purchases what is available at the outlet, influenced very largely by the
retailer.
Hindustan Lever Limited, has a distribution network which is one of their key strengths
that help’s them reach their products across the length and breadth of this vast country.
To meet the ever-changing needs of the consumer, HLL have set up a distribution network
that ensures availability of all its products, in all outlets, at all times. This includes,
maintaining favorable trade relations, providing innovative incentives to retailers and
organizing demand generation activities among a host of other things.
Therefore, over the decades, Hindustan Lever has progressively strengthened its
distribution reach in rural India, which today has about 33 lakh outlets. Direct rural
distribution in Hindustan Lever began with the coverage of villages adjacent to small
towns. The company's stockists in these towns were made to use their infrastructure to
distribute products to outlets in these villages. But this distribution mode could only be
extended to villages connected with motorable roads, and it could cover about 25% of the
rural population by 1995.
The evolution of HLL's Distribution Network :-
The first phase of the HLL distribution network had wholesalers placing bulk orders
directly with the company. Large retailers also placed direct orders, which comprised
almost 30 per cent of the total orders collected. The company salesman grouped all these
orders and placed an indent with the Head Office. Goods were sent to these markets, with
the company salesman as the consignee. The salesman then collected and distributed the
products to the respective wholesalers, against cash payment, and the money was
remitted to the company.
The focus of the second phase, which spanned the decades of the 40s, was to provide
desired products and quality service to the company's customers. In order to achieve this,
one wholesaler in each market was appointed as a "Registered Wholesaler," a stock point
for the company's products in that market. The company salesman still covered the market,
59

65. canvassing for orders from the rest of the trade. He would then distribute stocks from the
Registered Wholesaler through distribution units maintained by the company. The
Registered Wholesaler system, therefore, increased the distribution reach of the
company to a larger number of customers.
The highlight of the third phase was the concept of "Redistribution Stockist" (RS) who
replaced the RWs. The RS was required to provide the distribution units to the company
salesman. The RS financed his stocks and provided warehousing facilities to store them.
The RS also undertook demand stimulation activities on behalf of the company.
The second characteristic of this period we realized that the RS would be able to provide
customer service only if he was serviced well. This knowledge led to the establishment of
the "Company Depots" system. This system helped in transshipment, bulk breaking, and
as a stock point to minimize stock-outs at the RS level.
In the recent past, a significant change has been the replacement of the Company
Depot by a system of third party Carrying and Forwarding Agents (C&FAs). The C&FAs
act as buffer stock-points to ensure that stock-outs did not take place. The C&FA system
has also resulted in cost savings in terms of direct transportation and reduced time lag in
delivery. The most important benefit has been improved customer service to the RS.
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