‘Stocked up pretty well’: Kirana stores, retailers rush to stock up goods ahead of harsher winter months; higher sales expected

With winter approaching, Kirana stores and retailers across cities are rushing to restock their shelves with blankets, heaters, and other seasonal goods. The renewed push comes after the festive season demand exceeded expectations, which caught many traders off guard. GST rate cuts also contributed to the surge in consumer spending. The outlook for the winter season appears positive so far, as per companies such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Emami, Dabur, Bajaj Electricals, V-Mart Retail, and Lifestyle International. “The trade is stocked up pretty well for winter,” said Ritesh Tiwari, HUL’s chief financial officer, as cited by the Economic Times. “It’s all there now to sell.”“If at all we have a decent winter, we should have a good outcome,” Tiwari added. HUL's winter range includes skincare essentials like creams, lip balms, and moisturizers, among others. Winter is a crucial season for FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) and apparel companies that mostly rely on their range of seasonal products. For several market players, this period contributes between 15 percent and 25 percent of their annual sales.Emami vice-chairman Mohan Goenka said demand for winter stockings has grown in double digits this year. The company’s winter goods span from creams to chyawanprash. “The season has started early. Sentiments are extremely positive, and growth would have been higher if not for the five-day closure of distributors during Diwali. Winter has also set in early in some regions,” he said, as cited by the Economic Times. Sanjay Sachdeva, managing director of Bajaj Electricals, which leads the market in water and room heaters, said trade channels are fully stocked for the season. “Primaries have grown in double digits, and expectations of a strong season have led to higher stocking up,” he said.This winter, apparel retailers are also expecting higher sales. According to Lifestyle International CEO Devarajan Iyer, the company is getting ready to handle the anticipated increase in demand as predictions indicate a harsher winter this year.“We are projecting up to 20% growth and have placed orders accordingly. Stocking has already begun in the northern and eastern regions, where temperatures have started to drop and winters tend to be the most severe,” Iyer said. Value fashion retailer V-Mart Retail has also ramped up its winter inventory, expecting double-digit sales growth this season, chairman Lalit Agarwal said.Last week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted a greater likelihood of La Niña conditions in the upcoming months, indicating a colder winter with more snowfall in the Himalayan region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) last week predicted a higher chance of La Niña conditions in the coming months, signaling a colder-than-usual winter and heavier snowfall across the Himalayan region. The forecast has brought some relief to companies that struggled through a sluggish April–June quarter, especially electronics and FMCG firms hit by weak summer demand. Meanwhile, FMCG goods, ranging from soap to soft drink makers, saw a slight decline in sales during the September quarter due to disruptions from Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and heavy rainfall in several parts of the country.