MUMBAI: Personal care and oral care product manufacturer Colgate-Palmolive has increased its advertising spend by 32 per cent in the three-month period ended 30 June 2012.

The company spent Rs 837.2 million on advertising in the quarter, compared to Rs 634.1 million a year ago.

Colgate’s net sales stood at Rs 7.36 billion, up 20.45 per cent over the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal (Rs 6.11 billion). The net profit for the quarter stood at Rs 1.17 billion, as against Rs 1 billion for the year-ago period, recording a 17 per cent increase.

For Q1 FY’13 Colgate achieved a volume growth of 11 per cent and enhanced its leadership position in the toothpaste category to 54.5 per cent volume market share for the period from 12 January to 12 June from 52.4 per cent for the same six months last year.

The flagship brands, “Colgate Dental Cream”, “Active Salt”, “MaxFresh”, “Colgate Sensitive” and “Colgate Total”, were the chief contributors to this growth, the company said. The company strengthened its position in the toothbrush category and grew its market share to 38.2 per cent from 36.3 per cent.

The launch of Colgate Plax Fresh Tea in the fourth quarter of FY’12 helped the company gain momentum in the mouthwash category for the quarter under review.