Aditya Birla Group, led by chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, announced its entry into the paints sector with the launch of Birla Opus, a groundbreaking venture involving a significant investment of Rs 10,000 crore. Described as the conglomerate’s most substantial consumer business from the ground up, the move marks a strategic diversification after a decade, aligning with its existing cement business, which is the conglomerate’s primary revenue source.
Birla emphasized that there is no specific right time to enter a new business, attributing the delay to the group’s focus on existing ventures. The ambitious project includes the establishment of six plants across the country with a combined capacity of 1,332 million litres, surpassing the current capacity of the industry’s second, third, and fourth players combined. This represents 40% of the total industry capacity built over several decades.
The chairman highlighted the unprecedented nature of the venture, asserting that no global paint company has ever launched on such a massive scale simultaneously in terms of factories, operations, products, and services. The decision to foray into paints was made during the pandemic, with Birla Opus aiming to combine the agility and resourcefulness of a startup with the robust brand strength of the conglomerate.
The group envisions the paints business to generate a revenue of Rs 10,000 crore and achieve profitability within three years of operations. Birla Opus is set to enter the market in select states next month, with plans to cover the entire country by FY25. Kumar Mangalam Birla expressed confidence that by the time the revenue target is reached, Birla Opus will become the second-largest player in the industry.
The launch event, attended by paint dealers, contractors, and business associates, marked a significant step for the conglomerate. Aditya Birla Group director Himanshu Kapania took a swipe at a competitor, mentioning that some individuals were discouraged from attending the event. Birla emphasized that there is ample space for a large player like Aditya Birla Group in the market, echoing the trend of corporates worldwide focusing on consumer-centric businesses. The move aligns with the broader strategy of ramping up the conglomerate’s consumer portfolio, following similar trends observed in companies like Reliance Industries and the Tata Group.