Cosmetic company L'Oreal announced the opening of its manufacturing plant in India in Pune with an investment of Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million).
The plant has a capacity expandable to 100 million units per annum.
The group has commissioned the plant near Pune. The plant will manufacture hair care, hair color and skin care products for the Indian market as well as for exports.
The investment in the production capacity sets the company on track for continued growth in the Indian market, where its saw a growth of 33.4 per cent in 2003.
"High industrial standards, like those found at L'Oreal's plant in Pune, are key to securing growth in new markets," said Marcel Lafforgue, executive vice-president (production and technology), L'Oreal SA.
Didier Villanueva, managing director, L'Oreal India, said, "The growth of L'Oreal India is a result of our strategy to provide new, different and better products to the Indian consumer. We have been able to create a market for our products and this investment should help us gain bigger volumes."
L'Oreal India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the L'Oreal Group, has been present in India since 1994. The three business divisions operating in India include L'Oreal Consumer Products Division, with three brands -- L'Oreal Paris, Maybelline New York and Garnier; L'Oreal Professional -- which manage the salon business and the active cosmetics division with the Vichy brand of dermo-cosmetics.
