FMCG major Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GPCL) has forayed into women's hygiene market through a joint venture with Sweden-based SCA Hygiene Products AB.

Godrej SCA Hygiene, a 50:50 joint venture between the two companies, has introduced sanitary napkin brand 'Libresse', from SCA's global portfolio.

Under the agreement, manufacturing and marketing of the new product range will be handled by the JV company while the sales and distribution would be taken care of by GPCL, which has a strong distribution network across India with 6.5 lakh outlets.

The company, which plans to manufacture a range of products in India, has already acquired a site near Nasik to set up a manufacturing unit. It would invest Rs 40 crore in the new unit which is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

Mumbai-based Godrej Consumer Products Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the fast moving consumer goods market in India and internationally. It engages in the manufacture and sale of personal, hair, household, and fabric care products.

The company reported a 13% increase in net profit at Rs 41.47 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. Its sales increased by 16% to Rs 229.05 crore.