HLL Lifecare expects 40 percent growth in 2008-09

Thiruvananthapuram, March 9 (IANS) HLL Lifecare Ltd, premier manufacturer of contraceptives and various healthcare products, expects a 40 percent growth in turnover this fiscal from last year's Rs.3.16 billion (Rs.316 crore) despite the economic downturn, a top official said.

'The truth is that there has been no problem in our business and maybe we are doing extremely well on account of new variants of our condoms and a vigorous promotion exercise,' M. Ayyappan, chairman and managing director of HLL Lifecare, formerly known as Hindustan Latex Ltd, told IANS.

Currently the Moods brand of condoms comes in 15 variants and it is being sold in an international packing, he said.

'We have decided that the packing should be similar to what is there in the West. It has to be sensuous and not erotic,' Ayyappan said.

He added that the company would boost marketing activities next fiscal, especially for promoting female condom brands like Confidom and Velvet.

'Starting next fiscal, we will begin marketing of Velvet female condoms outside Delhi and also begin a vigorous marketing of the Confidom brand across major cities through modern outlets,' Ayyappan said.

HLL Lifecare Ltd makes 60 percent of the total 1.8 billion condoms produced in the country a year.