The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in India need to understand the unique characteristics of low-income value explorers (LIVE) and first-time modern trade shoppers (FTMTS) as these two growing shopper segments will account for a considerable part of the FMCG sales in the country over the next three years, Nielsen India said.

According to a fresh study by Nielsen India, LIVE and FTMTS segments will add $3 billion in the FMCG sales in India by the year of 2015.

In its report, Nielsen India suggested, "FMCG manufacturers and retailers need to understand the unique characteristics of these massively developing shopper segments."

As per the Nielsen study, there are around 10 million LIVE households in urban India, with an average annual earning of less than Rs 72,000. This segment is currently spending around $2.4 billion on products from FMCG suppliers. But FMCG purchases by this segment are expected to jump by 50 per cent to $3.6 billion by 2015.

FTMTS are currently spending $280 million at modern trade on products produced by FMCG firms, and the figure is expected to triple to $1 billion by 2015.

Nielsen said that the study revealed the drastic expanding of the base for branded product sales over the next three years. The researchers added that 50 per cent of LIVE households have already shifted to branded products.