Rising commodity prices puts pressure on margins: Horlicks

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Nutritional product maker GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) Ltd today said the rising commodity prices have had an impact on the profit margins of its health drink Horlicks.

''We have been managing well, though the rising commodity prices is a pressure,'' GSKCH General Manager Sumeet Saluja told reporters here on the sidelines of a conference here.

The company had increased its prices by four per cent in January, he added.

Mr Saluja, however, refused to comment on future price hikes.

The Rs 1000-crore Horlicks brand has a 44 per cent market share in the health drink category and has been witnessing growth at 10-20 per cent over the last few years.

GlaxoSmithKline also has brands like Boost, Viva and Maltova in the health drink category.

Horlicks has also roped in child actor Darsheel Safari of the 'Tare Zameen Par' fame as its brand ambassador for a period of one year.

Horlicks is targeting children as its main market, Mr Saluja said.

He, however, did not divulge the amount that the child star would cost the company.

This is Darsheel's first television commercial.

Of late, Darsheel has been in the limelight for the price he has been quoting.

UNI SR BJR PM1932