Haleon's New $240m Toothpaste Factory in India

Haleon is directing £175m (US$220m) into India to construct a manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh, India.

The British multinational aims to expand its reach in one of its fastest-growing markets and strengthen supply chain capabilities across Asia.

The investment could position the consumer healthcare company to meet demand in a market expected to reach more than £23bn (US$29bn) by 2030.

According to Haleon, India is central to its goal of reaching one billion additional consumers globally by the same year.

Local manufacturing capacity

Haleon produces consumer healthcare brands including Sensodyne, Panadol and Advil.

The new oral health manufacturing site will be located in Madhya Pradesh in central India, near several technical colleges.

This facility forms part of what Haleon calls its Win as One strategy, focussed on unlocking growth through productivity gains and cultural transformation within the company.

The site will support supply for the wider Asian continent and increase distribution capabilities across India's domestic market, allowing Haleon to reduce reliance on imports and improve delivery times.

According to Haleon, in-house supply chain capabilities will allow the company to respond to shifting consumer needs and market trends.

The facility is expected to create up to 500 jobs and support local capabilities and economic development.

Expanding access in rural markets

India is one of Haleon's largest oral health markets. However, access to dental care remains limited in rural areas where approximately 65% of the population lives.

Haleon is rolling out lower-cost and small-format toothpaste products to improve accessibility. This includes a 20-rupee (US$0.21) Sensodyne pack for distribution across towns and villages.

The company has recruited more than 500 people to its sales team in the last 12 months and has invested in last-mile capabilities, increasing the number of frontline teams on motorbikes.

These drivers deliver testing kits, samples and diagnostic tools to rural areas where communities cannot reach retail outlets and pharmacies. 

Scaling distribution and awareness

Haleon operates mobile oral health literacy vans to engage rural communities. These vans function as community hubs for oral health awareness, health checks and immediate product access.

"India is a key strategic market for Haleon and an important driver of our long-term growth," Brian McNamara, CEO of Haleon, says.

"This investment strengthens our local manufacturing footprint and expands our reach in one of the world's fastest-growing consumer health markets.

"By increasing access to our trusted brands and building our capabilities on the ground, we are well positioned to capture the significant opportunities ahead.

"We aim to expand access to better everyday health for more than 300 million additional consumers in India. This will be key to achieving our broader ambition to reach one billion more consumers globally by 2030."

Timeline for operations

The new manufacturing facility is planned to open in early 2028 and supply from the site is scheduled to commence in 2029.

The investment reflects Haleon's calculation that India's consumer health market will grow substantially over the next six years.

The company's expansion in the country includes both manufacturing infrastructure and ground-level distribution networks.

According to Haleon, the combination of local production and enhanced distribution could allow the company to serve 300 million additional Indian consumers.