Marico Limited (NSE: MARICO) expands heart-healthy portfolio with dual seed cold pressed oils launch

In a move that underscores its ambitions to consolidate leadership in the premium health and wellness segment of India‘s edible oil market, Marico Limited (NSE: MARICO, BSE: 531642) on June 4, 2025, officially announced the launch of its new Saffola Cold Pressed Oils range. This marks the company’s strategic entry into the cold pressed edible oils category—a niche gaining traction among India’s increasingly health-conscious consumers.

Why Is Marico Betting Big on Cold Pressed Oils in 2025?

The Indian edible oil market, long dominated by refined oil blends, has seen a paradigm shift in consumer behavior post-pandemic, with preferences moving towards minimally processed, natural alternatives. Cold pressed oils—extracted without heat or chemicals—have emerged as a preferred option for urban Indian households seeking cleaner, nutrient-rich alternatives.

Marico’s entry into this segment through the Saffola brand is both timely and calculated. The company is capitalizing on two macro trends: the rise of functional foods in the Indian kitchen and the rapid adoption of health-oriented quick commerce platforms. This new product line enables Marico to deepen its penetration in the premium edible oil segment, traditionally led by smaller regional players or emerging D2C brands.

What Products Has Marico Introduced Under the Saffola Cold Pressed Oils Range?

The newly launched Saffola Cold Pressed Oils range includes both single seed and dual seed oil variants designed to serve different use-cases in Indian cooking. The dual seed cold pressed oils, which blend Groundnut & Sesame and Groundnut & Safflower, provide a naturally balanced composition of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA). This design caters to consumers seeking specific nutritional outcomes like better heart health or cholesterol control.

Meanwhile, the single seed oils—available in 100% Mustard, 100% Sesame, and 100% Groundnut—target traditionalists who favor unblended oils for regional cooking preferences. All variants are cold pressed to preserve natural aroma, flavor, and nutritional properties, supporting Saffola’s long-standing association with preventive health.

Initial retail pricing reflects the premium nature of the offerings, with 1-litre packs priced at ₹356 (Mustard), ₹506 (Groundnut), and ₹719 (Sesame). Distribution will begin via digital-first, quick commerce platforms before expanding into modern trade and general retail formats.

What Does This Expansion Mean for Marico’s FMCG Strategy?

For Marico, the launch is not merely a product addition but a reinforcement of its Saffola-led wellness ecosystem. Over the past few years, the company has expanded Saffola beyond edible oils into oats, instant meals, active nutrition mixes, and cooking sprays. Cold pressed oils naturally extend this portfolio, aligning with the company’s shift toward holistic lifestyle offerings centered on preventive health and daily nutrition.

Ashish Gopal, CEO of India Core Business at Marico, stated that the new range is not only a response to rising consumer awareness but also a strategic bet to shape the category. He emphasized the brand’s role in delivering authenticity, trust, and functional benefits backed by science and brand legacy.

This sentiment is echoed by early consumer behavior experts, who suggest that Marico’s decision to launch dual-seed variants reflects a nuanced understanding of urban cooking patterns, where blends can bridge taste preferences and health needs without the hassle of mixing at home.

How Is Marico Stock Performing Post Announcement?

As of June 4, 2025, Marico Limited closed at ₹703.05 on the National Stock Exchange, modestly higher than the previous close of ₹703.60, with an intraday high of ₹708.45. Despite a mild gain of 0.31%, the stock’s steady volume—19.45 lakh shares traded, worth ₹136.77 crore—signals stable institutional interest. The delivery volume stood at a strong 65.86%, often interpreted by technical analysts as a sign of long-term holding preference over speculative trade.

Marico’s total market capitalization stands at ₹91,457.84 crore, with a free float market cap of ₹37,156.67 crore. The company maintains a high adjusted P/E of 54.99, reflecting strong investor conviction in its consumer trust, brand power, and consistent dividend payouts. It remains a constituent of the NIFTY MIDCAP 50 index, with its stock performance marked by a 52-week high of ₹740.20 (May 8, 2025) and a low of ₹577.85 (March 4, 2025).

Analysts maintain a “Hold” to “Moderate Buy” rating on the stock, citing steady performance in India’s resilient FMCG segment but flagging potential earnings compression amid raw material cost volatility and aggressive brand investments.

How Does Marico’s Launch Fit into the Competitive Landscape?

The cold pressed oil segment, while still a small subset of the ₹1.5 lakh crore Indian edible oil industry, is growing at a CAGR exceeding 15% according to industry estimates. Startups like Anveshan, Conscious Food, and even regional players have gained traction, especially on digital and D2C platforms. However, none match Marico’s national distribution capability, advertising muscle, or brand equity.

By entering the space through Saffola, Marico brings a potent combination of health equity and mass-market reach, giving it a distinct edge in scaling what has so far been a niche market. Moreover, quick commerce integration allows for lower entry barriers among younger consumers—an audience particularly drawn to health messaging.

Rival FMCG giants such as Adani Wilmar and Emami Agrotech have also shown interest in premium and health-based oil variants, but none have launched dual-seed innovations at scale, indicating Marico’s first-mover advantage in this subsegment.

Will This Translate Into Earnings Growth?

In FY 2024–25, Marico recorded revenues of approximately USD 1.3 billion, with international markets contributing around 25% of the topline. While the immediate impact of the cold pressed oil launch on quarterly earnings may be modest, the move signals a long-term strategy shift toward premiumization—a margin-accretive vector within a price-sensitive industry.

Saffola’s newer launches in the past two years, including oats and immunity-based products, have already contributed meaningfully to volume growth in the health vertical. If early traction on the cold pressed oils is strong, analysts expect Marico to introduce newer SKUs, smaller trial packs, and possibly institutional bulk packs targeting the premium Horeca segment.

Margins are expected to hold as cold pressed oils naturally command a higher consumer price due to the absence of chemical refining, provided scale efficiencies and raw material procurement remain under control.

What’s Next in Marico’s Growth Trajectory?

Looking ahead, Marico is likely to further deepen its wellness innovation funnel. Sector watchers anticipate future rollouts that may include fortified cold pressed oils, oil blends with plant sterols, or Ayurveda-based culinary formats to capture the growing health-food segment. International expansion of these oil products—especially to markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia where Indian diaspora demand remains high—could also be in the pipeline.

On the digital front, Saffola’s strategy appears aligned with e-commerce-first brands, offering availability through Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, and Amazon Fresh. Marico’s ability to integrate this rollout seamlessly across urban India could dictate the pace at which the cold pressed category scales up.

If traction builds, the cold pressed oils could become a ₹100–150 crore annual revenue vertical in 2–3 years, according to early projections by sector analysts.