The CII National FMCG Summit is India’s biggest conference on consumer-packaged goods. Driven by the immense support received from industry and stakeholders, the Summit has established itself as the apex forum for policy advocacy and perspective sharing for the sector and is normally attended by CEOs and CXOs of all the major FMCG companies and many thought leaders in the consumer goods space every year.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organizing the 16th edition of the CII National FMCG Summit on 15th December 2025 at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai. The theme of the Summit this year is “GST 2.0 – Accelerating the India Consumption Story”.
GST 2.0 announcement gave a new fillip to India’s consumption engine. With the required policy support in place, India’s consumption growth, one of the most powerful in the world, is entering a new phase: familiar in its promise, but different in its drivers. Within the overall consumption basket, branded FMCG had particularly choppy times in the last few years. Soft demand, muted sentiment, and inflationary pressures tested the pace of growth, even as the long-term fundamentals remain firmly intact.
Alongside tax changes, the young, connected, aspirational population and a fast-evolving retail landscape, mean FMCG companies must adapt to growth that is more diversified, digital, and discerning than before. “Many Indias” are not different regions; it is around us everywhere. The ability to serve an expanding middle class while also inspiring a new generation of consumers across digital and physical ecosystems will separate the winners from the rest.
This year’s summit will convene India’s most influential FMCG leaders to explore how the industry can navigate short-term turbulence while staying firmly invested in India’s long-term consumption opportunity.
Chairman, CII National Committee on FMCG and Managing Director & CEO, Godrej Consumer Products
Chairman, CII National Committee on FMCG and Managing Director, Pidilite Industries
Bharat Puri is currently the Managing Director of Pidilite Industries Ltd, having joined the Board of
Pidilite Industries Ltd as an Independent Director in 2008 and being appointed Managing Director
in April 2015. Pidilite is India’s leading manufacturer of consumer adhesives, sealants, construction
chemicals, art and craft products as well as polymer emulsions. Over the past few years, Pidilite
has emerged as one of India’s most respected consumer companies.
Bharat was at school at the Lawrence School Sanawar, graduated in Commerce from Punjab
University and completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management (MBA) from the Indian
Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Starting his career with Asian Paints in 1982, he rose to eventually heading Sales and Marketing
for the company. He moved to Cadbury India as Director of Sales and Marketing in 1998 and was
appointed its Managing Director in 2002. In 2006, he was posted to Singapore in a Regional role.
He then held senior leadership positions in Sales, Marketing and General Management, at the
regional, and global level, culminating in his becoming Global President, Chocolates, Gum and
Candy, for Mondelez International. Bharat has been a successful global business leader who has
built, energised and led diverse teams across numerous geographies in both developed and
developing markets.
As a person, Bharat can be described as open, curious, fair with a strong bias for action and a
strong belief in the power of teams.
Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on FMCG and Managing Director, Pidilite Industries
Chief Executive - Personal Care, ITC Limited
CEO and Managing Director, P&G India
Managing Director, Perfetti Van Melle India
CEO, RP-SG FMCG
Managing Director, Nivea India
Founder & CEO, Foxtale
CEO – eB2B and EVP – Consumer Beauty Brands, Nykaa
MD and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India
Executive Director, Castrol India
CEO & Managing Director, DFM Foods
Founder and Managing Director, Balaji Wafers
Managing Director, Bikaji Foods International
Executive Director – Foods, Hindustan Unilever Limited.
Managing Director & CEO, Hygienic Research Institute
Managing Director-India, Grupo Bimbo
Managing Director & CEO, Futurebrands India
Former Chairman & Managing Director , Nestle India
Co-Founder
Sideways Consulting
This session will discuss how GST 2.0 and recent fiscal measures are helping reignite India’s consumption engine. Panelists will reflect on early signs of demand recovery, implications for FMCG growth, and how companies can balance near-term execution with long-term opportunity. Discussion will also touch on how policy, affordability, and innovation are aligning to create the next wave of consumption.
India’s consumers are fragmenting - across regions, city tiers, and generations. This panel will explore who the “new Indian consumer” is, what drives their choices, and how FMCG players can evolve portfolios, pricing, and communication to stay relevant. Discussion will cover premiumization, digital adoption, and the growing interplay between affordability and aspiration.
With insurgent and digital-first brands reshaping categories, this discussion will examine how both traditional and insurgent brands can rediscover their “big why” - the deeper purpose and meaning that connects them with today’s discerning consumers. The panel will explore themes of brand purpose, innovation, insight- driven R&D, and communication that builds enduring relevance.
Rural India is no longer a monolith. With digital connectivity, rising incomes, and aspirational youth, the rural consumer story is being rewritten. This session will delve into the structural changes reshaping demand, shifts in product and pack strategies, distribution innovation, and the growing role of technology in rural engagement and inclusion.
A fireside-style conversation with entrepreneurs who have built iconic regional or local FMCG brands. The session will unpack how these leaders identified opportunities in smaller markets, innovated with limited resources, and scaled sustainably while remaining rooted in consumer understanding.
As media consumption shifts to mobile-first, multi-format, and hyper-local models, brands must rethink how they connect, communicate, and shape demand. This session will examine emerging digital formats, the rise of influencer and regional content, and how data-led storytelling can build both reach and resonance in the age of attention scarcity.
A reflective conversation with industry veterans on the timeless principles that have defined Indian FMCG — from developing markets and building iconic brands to nurturing talent and culture. Panelists will share what endures in an ever-changing landscape and how organizations can sustain growth through transformation.
