arico has made a name for itself as a marketer that grows organically by building good, solid niche brands. It may be time to revise that impression as the company seeks to hurry its growth and double its turnover in the next three years. Its compound annual growth rate in recent times has been only 13 per cent.

Its acquisition - price still unknown - of Nihar coconut and perfumed hair oil (sales: about Rs 120 crore) from Hindustan Lever last month is by far the biggest so far. The purchase came on the heels of its picking up Manjal, a herbal soap brand with a market in Kerala. ... more