PrePare Tata Crucible 8: News You Can Use

L'Oreal, the French cosmetic brand, plans to set up a research & development centre to develop products specifically for the Indian market. The company has also converted its scientific testing centre at Mumbai into a research centre. It also plans to tie up with 10,000 beauty salons in India over the next two- three years.

Ballarpur Industries has signed a share purchase agreement with Premier tissues (PTIL) to acquire the entire paid up capital of the company. The acquisition will be for an aggregate consideration of up to Rs76.5 crore. PTIL is in the business of tissue paper and related products under the brand names premier and Royal.

Future Group and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) plans to foray into the Indian pasta market. Future Group will launch its pasta under the Tasty Treat brand. Tasty Treat pasta is made of suji and will be available in variants like masala, cheese and pizza style. The product will be priced at Rs12-15 a packet. HUL plans to launch pasta under the Knorr brand.

Elder Health Care, the FMCG arm of the Rs 800-crore Elder group, is targeting a turnover of Rs 125-crore and has earmarked Rs 40-crore for an advertising blitz aimed at strongly pushing its three top brands -- Tiger Balm, Fuel deodorant and FairOne Cream -- this fiscal.

Having acquired mouthwash brand Listerine from Pfizer in 2008, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is now investing in growing the brand and category in India. Listerine that existed both as a prescription and preventive oral care brand in the past is now restricted to the OTC (over-the-counter) segment in the country.