FMCG Q1 check: Some hot, some not

Scorching summer heat and elections created a mixed quarter for consumer goods, with sales of cooling products like beverages, ice creams, talcum powder, and sunscreens rising up to 15 per cent amidst the heatwave. However, impulse snacks and single-serve beverages saw a decline due to reduced out-of-home consumption. Election restrictions impacted alcohol sales, while delayed monsoon affected insecticide sales. Last-mile servicing challenges were reported, particularly in rural areas due to the heat.