From grooming to personal health: Philips targets Gen Z for India growth – CNBC TV18
Dutch electronics and health technology company Philips, which has been in India for nearly 97 years, is changing how it approaches the market.
The company is now focusing more on personal health and self-care, with a clear shift towards Gen Z consumers, who are more open to trying new products, spend more on grooming and health, and are comfortable with technology.
At the same time, many of these categories are still not widely used. Products in grooming, oral care and mother and childcare are still in low penetration stages, which means there is room for more people to start using them.
That is where the opportunity is.
The company says its personal health business in India grew in high single digits in 2025 and is targeting growth at about twice the pace of the economy over time.
A big part of this growth is coming from premium products.
Philips is seeing demand for higher-end offerings like advanced electric shavers, new hair dryer technology and wearable breast pumps. These are not low-priced products — its AI-powered electric shavers, for instance, are priced up to ₹45,000. But consumers are willing to spend if they see clear benefits.
At the same time, price still matters.
India remains a value-conscious market, so the company is trying to offer products at different price points. Local manufacturing is helping with that, with nearly 40% of its India portfolio now made in the country.
Some categories are already large but still have room to grow.
Even in male grooming, where Philips already has a strong presence with about 50-60% market share, overall category penetration remains low in early double-digits, leaving room for further growth.
Other segments are driven by simple demographics.
In mother and childcare, demand is supported by around 25 million births every year, creating a steady opportunity for the company to expand its presence.
Oral care is a slower story.
The need is there, but adoption is still low. The company says this will take time and will depend on awareness and education, not just product availability.
For Philips, the focus is clear — build products that people find useful, offer them across price points, and grow as more people start spending on personal health.
What remains to be seen is how much of this demand can come from beyond big cities.
Key Insights
- This topic is currently trending
- Experts are closely monitoring developments
- It may impact future decisions
