In historical terms Procter & Gamble's relationship with India dates back to when Vicks Product Inc. India, a branch of Vicks Product Inc. USA established in 1951, was engaged in the manufacture (under loan license) and sale of what is today India's Number One Health Care brand - the famous range of VICKS products.

 

In 1964, a public limited company, Richardson Hindustan Limited (RHL) is formed which obtains an Industrial License to undertake manufacture of Menthol and de mentholised peppermint oil and VICKS range of products such as Vicks VapoRub, Vicks Cough Drops and Vicks Inhaler.

 

In May 1967, RHL introduces CLEARASIL, then America's number one pimple cream. The Company also commences manufacture of Menthol from basic stage leading to major foreign exchange savings. RHL pioneered mentha farming activities at its Agricultural Research Center at Bilaspur in Terai Region of Uttar Pradesh. Today India is the world's largest manufacturer and exporter of Menthol.

 

In 1979, RHL launches VICKS ACTION 500. It also commenced campus recruitment in this year and began recruitment from IIM campuses as Day I recruiters.

 

In 1984, RHL sets up an Ayurvedic Research Laboratory. This is in keeping with the Company's mission of delivering products of superior quality to address the common ailments of the people such as cough and colds.

 

In October 1985, after RHL becomes an affiliate of The Procter & Gamble Company, USA, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Hyderabad for manufacture of the Vicks range of products is set up. This facility is unique in the sense that its workforce consists of a highly trained team of 40 women all experts at multiple tasks on the shop floor.

 

In 1989, Procter & Gamble India (after change in name from RHL) launches Whisper - the breakthrough technology sanitary napkin which will revolutionize the Indian feminine hygiene category.

 

In 1991, Procter & Gamble India launches Ariel detergent - another of P&G's global, breakthrough technology products. Also, in the same year the Mandideep (Bhopal) Factory starts its operations.

 

In 1992, The Procter & Gamble Company, US increases its stake in Procter & Gamble India to 51% and then to 65%.

 

In 1993, Procter & Gamble India divests the Detergents business to Procter & Gamble Home Products. In the same year, Procter & Gamble India starts marketing Old Spice Brand of products.

 

In 1996, Goa Honda Factory starts its operations, manufacturing Vicks Vaporub.

 

In 1998, Goa Kundiam Factory starts its operations, manufacturing Whisper pads.

 

In 1999 Procter & Gamble India Limited changed the name of the Company to Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited.

In the same year Mediker Shampoo business is divested to Marico Industries.

 

In 2000, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited introduced Whisper Ultra - a revolutionary and unique product in the history of menstrual products in India.

 

In August 2000, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited launched Vicks Plus Medicated Lozenges, a product that provides medicinal relief from sore throat. The uniqueness of Vicks Plus Medicated Lozenges lies in its anti-bacterial ingredient CPC (Cetylpyridinium Chloride), which actually provides medicinal relief from a sore throat.

 

In August 2000, Vicks Action 500+ was relaunched in an attractive True Blue pack. The change from green to blue packaging brings Vicks Action 500 + in line with the new global packaging colours used for the Vicks range of products worldwide.

 

In April 2001, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited reduced the prices of Whisper Ultra from Rs.80 to Rs.65 for a pack of ten, making it affordable to Indian consumers.

 

In May 2002, Whisper announced a unique knowledge sharing initiative for women – The Whisper Diary of Secrets. The Whisper Diary of Secrets is a full-color 48-page, booklet designed to provide the new age woman with information that she seeks on feminine hygiene, health and beauty.

 

In August 2002, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited announced the launch of Whisper “Money Back” offer, which offers consumers a chance to experience Whisper’s superior performance, helping them forget the wetness; and if they are not satisfied, they get their money back.

 

In June 2002, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited announced the launch of New Improved Vicks VapoRub – India’s Number One Cold Rub – that provides multi-symptom relief from the six symptoms of a child’s cold, namely – blocked nose, cough, body ache, headache, muscle-stiffness and breathing difficulty. The medicinal properties of New Improved Vicks VapoRub’s ingredients nilgiri (eucalyptus oil), pudina (menthol) and kapoor (camphor) provide faster, longer-lasting relief from these six symptoms of cold.

 

In July 2002, Procter & Gamble announced the launch of Vicks Action500+ Night tablets, a specially designed cold medicine that gives consumers multi-symptom relief from bothersome cold symptoms like headache and breathing difficulty, hence allowing restful sleep at night.

 

In October 2002, India’s number one cough and cold brand – Vicks – celebrated its 50th Year in India and launched Dual Golden Jubilee Offers to reward Indian consumers for 50 Years of trust and loyalty. The first was a Free Vicks Inhaler worth Rs. 25 with every purchase of a 50gm Vicks VapoRub Jar (free gift worth 40% of the price of Vicks VapoRub), and the second was a 30gm Vicks VapoRub Jar at the current price of a 25gm jar, providing 20% Vicks VapoRub Free.

 

In October 2003, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Healthcare Ltd. launched New Vicks Formula 44 Cough Syrup which uniquely provides safe, effective and long lasting relief for up to eight hours from tough persistent coughs due to colds, as compared to four-hour relief provided by a single dose of most popular cough syrup brands.

 

In May 2004, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Healthcare Ltd. we commenced test marketing an economically priced and competitively superior performing, WHISPER Choice pads in the southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.  At an affordable introductory price of Rs.26 for ten pads, WHISPER Choice provides three distinct benefits: 1) superior protection vs. other pads in its price range; 2) With its unique dri-weave top sheet it provides one tenth the wetness of ordinary (non woven) top sheet pads and 3) double adhesive coverage to ensure that the pad stays in place much better than ordinary pads.