Key Summary
- Haleon will invest £175m for first manufacturing site in Madhya Pradesh, central India.
- The company plans to reach one billion more consumers by 2030.
- India’s consumer health market will reach over £23 billion by 2030.
Consumer health brand Haleon plans to invest around £175 million in building a new oral health manufacturing site in India and increase it reach in the country’s rural areas.
This is part of its strategy to reach one billion more consumers by 2030, and India is one of Haleon’s fastest-growing markets.
The new site in Madhya Pradesh state will help support demand in India, and supply to wider Asian markets.
India is already one of Haleon’s largest markets for oral health products, and the company plans to expand access to its brands such as Sensodyne and Parodontax across rural communities.
Haleon says it wants to reach more than three million outlets by 2030, in line with the capital allocation priorities set out at its 2025 Capital Markets Day.
Reaching underserved communities
Rural India is home to around 65 percent of the population, spread across more than 650,000 villages, where oral health needs remain largely unmet.
Haleon plans to introduce lower-cost, small-format toothpaste packs, including its 20-rupee Sensodyne pack, to make products more affordable and increase its reach in rural areas.
The company has hired more than 500 people for its sales teams over the past year.
Awareness drives
Haleon is also strengthening its “last-mile” presence by doubling frontline teams on motorbikes, equipped with testing kits, samples and diagnostic tools for communities beyond the reach of conventional retail and pharmacies.
It is using simple screening methods such as “chill tests”, where people check for sensitivity by drinking cold water, to help identify long-standing symptoms and connect consumers with treatment.
The company is also taking oral health education directly into rural communities through Sensodyne-branded vans, which are designed to turn local markets and public squares into awareness hubs offering checks and product access.
Haleon chief executive Brian McNamara said India is a key strategic market and an important part of the company’s long-term growth.
He added that the investment will strengthen local manufacturing and increase access to trusted brands, helping the company reach more than 300 million additional consumers in India and support its wider goal of reaching one billion more consumers globally by 2030.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new manufacturing site this week, which was attended by Haleon leaders and Madhya Pradesh chief minister.
The facility is expected to open in early 2028, with production due to begin the following year.
