L’Oréal has set up a new Research & Innovation (R&I) Center based in Mumbai & Bangalore to study Indian hair and skin specificities as well as the beauty routines and expectations of Indian consumers. This set up in line with the company’s growth strategy for the Indian market. The company plans to invest a total of INR 970 Crores in India from 2011 to 2016.
The R&I Center in India is the Group’s 6th R&I hub globally. It includes both a Product Development Center in Mumbai and an Advanced Research Center in Bangalore, and will employ over 100 Indian researchers and scientists from the fields of Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Physics and Biology by end 2013.
At the inauguration, Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of L’Oréal, said, “With one of the highest growths of the Group in Asia Pacific, India is a key contributor to L’Oréal’s objective of reaching one billion new consumers. The R&I Center in India reflects our confidence in the great potential of the Indian market and our strong commitment to the country. It is in line with L’Oréal’s universalization strategy of adapting our global brands to each culture’s specific needs.”
The Product Development Center is a 5,000 square meter facility located in Mumbai. Its activity relies on a unique and wide knowledge of Indian hair and skin specificities gathered through clinical studies and a deep understanding of consumers’ beauty expectations. Its mission is to translate needs into innovative products ranging from skin care, hair care, hair color, color cosmetics and personal hygiene. The Bangalore Advanced Research Center is a 2,000 square meter site in Whitefield. The scientific environment of Bangalore is favorable to the exploration of phytochemistry, biotechnologies and bioinformatics to screen active ingredients able to address pigmentation disorders, scalp concerns and hair breakage. A specific focus will be on decoding Ayurveda roots thanks to modern biological, chemical and analytical methods.
Mohamed Kanji, Director of Research & Innovation for L’Oréal India, added “The R&I Center in India will help us to invent, in close cooperation with our brands, our factory and the excellence of the Indian innovation ecosystem, “star” products that meet local beauty needs.” Present in India for 18 years, L’Oréal is one of the fastest-growing beauty companies in the country with a growth rate above +20% and sales which could reach INR 1580 crores in 2012. Its brands are distributed in approximately 750,000 points of sale.
Source: L’Oréal Press Release