The coronavirus outbreak hit India's economy hard with most economic activity grinding to a halt. Some products have witnessed unprecedented sales during this crisis. There has been a focus on health and hygiene products, immunity boosting products and other items of daily use. Here are some items that have been flying off shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turmeric The sale of the humble turmeric (also known as haldi) has surged by over 40 per cent on e-commerce platforms in the last few months. Curcumin, the most important ingredient in turmeric is known for its immunity boosting properties and this explains why consumers are generously spending on turmeric at a time when immunity is the biggest concern. Amul has recently launched turmeric milk as it helps regulate the immune system and helps in quick healing.
HoneySale of honey has also picked up in the last few months. Its sales in modern trade surged by 39 per cent. A product which used to be 9 per cent of a consumer's shopping bill, is now upwards of 15 per cent, according to Snapbizz.
Parle G BiscuitsFast-moving consumer goods brand Parle recorded an uptick in sales of its Parle-G biscuits during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. The product was in high demand between March and May.The demand for biscuits rose as they came handy for people working from home as well as migrant workers returning to their homes during the nationwide lockdown.The sales of Parle-G biscuits recorded the best sales in eight decades of its existence, in the month of June.
Dettol Dettol products also witnessed strong demand globally, up by what it was in 2019 in the same period. The COVID-19 pandemic fuelled greater demand for the hygiene product. Dettol also became the number one soap brand in India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia as per Reckitt Benckiser's statement.
Hershey's syrupChocolate manufacturer Hershey India witnessed a sharp rise in the sale of its syrups, cocoa powder, bread spreads amid the coronavirus pandemic. The demand was due to an upsurge in baking activities at home. The sales of Hershey's grocery portfolio in June was nearly double versus the average monthly run rate in the first quarter of this year.
Dabur ChyawanprashEarlier, immunity building products were aimed at kids or senior citizens, now people across age groups are looking for them. Chyavanprash has surprisingly done so well during the peak of summer when the product used to be in demand only in winter.
LifebuoyLifebuoy, the country's largest selling brand, has also seen a surge in its sales given its mass-market positioning and reach in rural areas.
LizolLizol (disinfectant liquid), a staple cleaning product found in every Indian household, has witnessed a surge as demand for personal and home cleaning products picked during the pandemic. The product was in high demand in the months of May and June. Product sales also saw a sudden uptick as it has proved effective in killing the novel coronavirus in lab testing. It was found that the disinfectant could kill the virus on a hard and non-porous surface in two minutes.
Harpic toilet cleanerHarpic toilet cleaner also picked up sales during the coronavirus induced lockdown. The brand posted a "high single-digit" revenue growth during the first half of the year.
LaptopsTaiwan tech major Asus has been witnessing strong sales in its convertible and gaming laptops in the market amid the coronavirus pandemic. The huge demand has been seen coming in from the people working and studying from home.Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, demand for tech devices, laptops, personal computers, and smartphones has seen an uptick as people are now shifting towards online mode of communication.Asus has said that it is looking forward to expanding its market share to 23-25 per cent by the end of this year and make a place for itself among the top three strong players in the consumer PC segment.