Consumer goods firm, Dabur India Ltd is expanding reach of its 'NewU' retail chain through an online portal to cater to a larger consumer base apart from opening more stores across the country.

Fast moving consumer goods company Dabur India on Monday posted a 13.4 per cent jump in its consolidated net profit for 2011-12 at Rs 644.9 crore . Sales crossed the $1-billion mark on robust growth in domestic and international markets.

FMCG major Dabur India today said its consolidated net profit rose by 16% to Rs 170.52 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2012, over the same period of the previous fiscal.

Buoyed by its group turnover crossing the $1 billion mark last fiscal, homegrown FMCG firm Dabur India today said it will speed up innovation for new products to keep the growth momentum.

Homegrown FMCG firms Dabur and Marico may hike prices of some of their products as has already been done by rival Emami in the wake of increase in excise duty hike and higher input costs.

Over the last one year, when valuations of consumer stocks have commanded a premium, Dabur has underperformed both peers and the broader market. In Q2, most categories, except haircare, saw single-digit growth.

Dabur India Ltd is finetuning its plans to enter the professional grooming market through a variety of skincare products under the ‘Fem’ and ‘Oxy’ brands. Initially, these products would be sold directly to parlours and salons.

Companies are likely to see lower volume growth as consumers remain wary of spending.

FMCG player Dabur has entered the professional grooming products market with its 'Fem' brand, eyeing a 10% share of the estimated Rs 1,000 crore market, in which leading brands like L'Oreal Professional and Schwarzkopf are present, in the next two years.

The Burman family, promoter of Dabur India, has picked up a stake in Portuguese company Espírito Santo’s Indian unit, marking its entry into the investment banking and stock broking businesses.

Promoters of FMCG major Dabur India, the Burman family, has formed a joint venture with global investment banking firm Espirito Santo Investment Bank (ESIB) for equity research brokerage businesses in India.

In what appears to be a clear signal that demand remains strong for consumer staples, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies reported good numbers for the September quarter, with a close to 20 per cent top line growth for most firms.

Q2 margins managed by cutting ad spend, but analysts say this may not be sustainable.

Net sales for the quarter stood at Rs 1,262 crore.

FMCG firm Dabur today said it will invest around Rs 125 crore in three years in Sri Lanka as it enters the island nation by forming a new subsidiary and setting a manufacturing facility there.

Consumption stocks seemed to have run out of steam with valuations becoming expensive following a sharp run up. Most counters, which had hit a 52-week high last month, have underperformed the benchmark indices in the last one month.

FMCG firm Dabur today posted a 19.1% jump in its consolidated net profit to Rs 127.74 crore for the April-June quarter on the back of strong demand across categories and stringent cost-saving measures to mitigate rising input costs.

FMCG firm Dabur today said it is planning to launch in India by September this year personal care brands of Turkey's Hobi Kozmetik, which it had acquired last year.

Home-grown FMCG firm Dabur today said it will invest up to Rs 200 crore this fiscal to expand operations, which will include setting up three new factories overseas by next year.

Dabur is piggybacking on the equity of its digestive brand Hajmola to enter a new segment in confectionery — mints. Hajmola Mint Masti will enclose the Hajmola tablet as a filling in a mint shell.