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- 1. Our history<br />In the summer of 1888, visitors to the Kolkata harbour noticed crates full of Sunlight soap bars, embossed with the words \" Made in England by Lever Brothers\" . With it, began an era of marketing branded Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).<br /> Soon after followed Lifebuoy in 1895 and other famous brands like Pears, Lux and Vim. Vanaspati was launched in 1918 and the famous Dalda brand came to the market in 1937.<br />In 1931, Unilever set up its first Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company, followed by Lever Brothers India Limited (1933) and United Traders Limited (1935). These three companies merged to form HUL in November 1956; HUL offered 10% of its equity to the Indian public, being the first among the foreign subsidiaries to do so. Unilever now holds 52.10% equity in the company. The rest of the shareholding is distributed among about 360,675 individual shareholders and financial institutions.<br />The erstwhile Brooke Bond's presence in India dates back to 1900. By 1903, the company had launched Red Label tea in the country. In 1912, Brooke Bond & Co. India Limited was formed. Brooke Bond joined the Unilever fold in 1984 through an international acquisition. The erstwhile Lipton's links with India were forged in 1898. Unilever acquired Lipton in 1972, and in 1977 Lipton Tea (India) Limited was incorporated.<br />Pond's (India) Limited had been present in India since 1947. It joined the Unilever fold through an international acquisition of Chesebrough Pond's USA in 1986.<br />Since the very early years, HUL has vigorously responded to the stimulus of economic growth. The growth process has been accompanied by judicious diversification, always in line with Indian opinions and aspirations.<br />The liberalisation of the Indian economy, started in 1991, clearly marked an inflexion in HUL's and the Group's growth curve. Removal of the regulatory framework allowed the company to explore every single product and opportunity segment, without any constraints on production capacity.<br />Simultaneously, deregulation permitted alliances, acquisitions and mergers. In one of the most visible and talked about events of India's corporate history, the erstwhile Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) merged with HUL, effective from April 1, 1993. In 1996, HUL and yet another Tata company, Lakme Limited, formed a 50:50 joint venture, Lakme Unilever Limited, to market Lakme's market-leading cosmetics and other appropriate products of both the companies. Subsequently in 1998, Lakme Limited sold its brands to HUL and divested its 50% stake in the joint venture to the company.<br />HUL formed a 50:50 joint venture with the US-based Kimberly Clark Corporation in 1994, Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd, which markets Huggies Diapers and Kotex Sanitary Pads. HUL has also set up a subsidiary in Nepal, Unilever Nepal Limited (UNL), and its factory represents the largest manufacturing investment in the Himalayan kingdom. The UNL factory manufactures HUL's products like Soaps, Detergents and Personal Products both for the domestic market and exports to India.<br />The 1990s also witnessed a string of crucial mergers, acquisitions and alliances on the Foods and Beverages front. In 1992, the erstwhile Brooke Bond acquired Kothari General Foods, with significant interests in Instant Coffee. In 1993, it acquired the Kissan business from the UB Group and the Dollops Icecream business from Cadbury India.<br />As a measure of backward integration, Tea Estates and Doom Dooma, two plantation companies of Unilever, were merged with Brooke Bond. Then in 1994, Brooke Bond India and Lipton India merged to form Brooke Bond Lipton India Limited (BBLIL), enabling greater focus and ensuring synergy in the traditional Beverages business. 1994 witnessed BBLIL launching the Wall's range of Frozen Desserts. By the end of the year, the company entered into a strategic alliance with the Kwality Icecream Group families and in 1995 the Milkfood 100% Icecream marketing and distribution rights too were acquired.<br />Finally, BBLIL merged with HUL, with effect from January 1, 1996. The internal restructuring culminated in the merger of Pond's (India) Limited (PIL) with HUL in 1998. The two companies had significant overlaps in Personal Products, Speciality Chemicals and Exports businesses, besides a common distribution system since 1993 for Personal Products. The two also had a common management pool and a technology base. The amalgamation was done to ensure for the Group, benefits from scale economies both in domestic and export markets and enable it to fund investments required for aggressively building new categories.<br />In January 2000, in a historic step, the government decided to award 74 per cent equity in Modern Foods to HUL, thereby beginning the divestment of government equity in public sector undertakings (PSU) to private sector partners. HUL's entry into Bread is a strategic extension of the company's wheat business. In 2002, HUL acquired the government's remaining stake in Modern Foods.<br />In 2003, HUL acquired the Cooked Shrimp and Pasteurised Crabmeat business of the Amalgam Group of Companies, a leader in value added Marine Products exports.<br />HUL launched a slew of new business initiatives in the early part of 2000’s. Project Shakti was started in 2001. It is a rural initiative that targets small villages populated by less than 5000 individuals. It is a unique win-win initiative that catalyses rural affluence even as it benefits business. Currently, there are over 45,000 Shakti entrepreneurs covering over 100,000 villages across 15 states and reaching to over 3 million homes.<br />In 2002, HUL made its foray into Ayurvedic health & beauty centre category with the Ayush product range and Ayush Therapy Centres. Hindustan Unilever Network, Direct to home business was launched in 2003 and this was followed by the launch of ‘Pureit’ water purifier in 2004.<br />In 2007, the Company name was formally changed to Hindustan Unilever Limited after receiving the approval of share holders during the 74th AGM on 18 May 2007. Brooke Bond and Surf Excel breached the the Rs 1,000 crore sales mark the same year followed by Wheel which crossed the Rs.2,000 crore sales milestone in 2008.<br />On 17th October 2008 , HUL completed 75 years of corporate existence in India.<br />Related Links<br />HUL 75 years Special Issue – Doing Well by Doing Good (4.4 MB)<br />Introduction to HUL
- 2. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company with a heritage of over 75 years in India and touches the lives of two out of three Indians.
- 3. HUL works to create a better future every day and helps people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others.
- 4. With over 35 brands spanning 20 distinct categories such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, tea, coffee, packaged foods, ice cream, and water purifiers, the Company is a part of the everyday life of millions of consumers across India. Its portfolio includes leading household brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Fair & Lovely, Pond’s, Vaseline, Lakmé, Dove, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Pepsodent, Closeup, Axe, Brooke Bond, Bru, Knorr, Kissan, Kwality Wall’s and Pureit.
- 5. The Company has over 15,000 employees and has an annual turnover of Rs.17,523 crores (financial year 2009 - 2010). HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever, one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe with annual sales of about €44.3 billion in 2010. Unilever has about 52% shareholding in HUL.Hindustan Unilever Limited – December Quarter 2010 Results<br />25-01-2011 : Sustained double digit growth; Turnover exceeds Rs 5000 crores<br />Strong 12% sales growth in Domestic Consumer business<br />Operating Margins lower due to impact of high input cost inflation & brand investments<br />PAT (bei) Rs.587 crore; Net profit Rs.638 crore, down by -1.8%<br />Mumbai, January 25th 2011: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced its results for December Quarter 2010. With sustained double digit underlying volume growth in the Domestic Consumer business (+13%), Net Sales grew 12% during the quarter and ahead of the market in aggregate.<br />Home and Personal Care business grew by 11.6% with competitive growth in both Laundry and Personal Wash. Laundry portfolio was further strengthened and Rin delivered record volume growth. Personal Wash also grew ahead of the market with Lifebuoy growing strongly post the relaunch and the premium portfolio continuing to deliver robust growth.<br />Personal Products grew strongly at 20%; Growth was broad based across categories with Skin Care delivering a particularly strong performance. Skin Care growth was innovation led, both on the core and in emerging segments. Fair and Lovely, Pond’s White Beauty and Vaseline Healthy White continued to deliver robust sales growth. Both Hair and Oral performed well across the key brands. Dove Hair range was relaunched with ‘Fiber Actives’ and in Oral, a new variant Close-up ‘Fire-Freeze’ was successfully introduced.<br />Foods business grew 11.3%. In Tea, Red Label was relaunched and continued to deliver double digit growth. Coffee growth was robust, across conventional and instant coffee, with price point packs performing particularly well. Knorr Soupy Noodles sustained its strong momentum and is now available nationally. Ice-cream grew by 31% with good growth across formats.<br />Pureit continued to expand its franchise with product offerings across multiple price and benefit positions. Overall, the water business grew strongly and in line with action standards.<br />Input cost inflation continued to rise during the quarter. Cost of goods sold went up by 220 bps, as a result of steep rise in material costs, especially in commodity sensitive categories. A&P spend grew by 17% to maintain market competitiveness and to develop emerging categories. Consequently, operating margins were lower by 320 bps. Buying efficiencies and cost saving programs remain a priority and are being further scaled up.<br />Financial income increased by Rs. 38 crores through further improvement in working capital and sound treasury management. Profit after tax but before exceptional items declined by -2.1%, while Net Profit declined by -1.8%.<br />Harish Manwani, Chairman commented: “Our strategy is working and is reflected in the consistent double digit underlying volume growth over the last four quarters and ahead of market growth. We continue to strengthen our leadership in core categories, even as we invest to build opportunities for the future. In an inflationary environment, we will manage our business dynamically, through judicious pricing actions and increased focus on cost effectiveness, while ensuring that we remain competitive in the market place.”<br />India:<br />Hindustan Unilever Ltd 165/166, Backbay Reclamation Mumbai 400020 <br />Skip to content.<br />Skip to navigation.<br />Top of Form<br />Search <br />Bottom of Form<br />Investor centre<br />Media centre<br />Careers<br />About us<br />Our brands<br />Sustainability<br />Innovation<br />IndiaChange location<br />Find out about our history, mission and corporate structure, and the way we do business.<br />About us<br />Introduction to HUL<br />Our vision<br />Purpose & principles<br />Our history<br />Company structure<br />Close<br />Two out of three Indians use Hindustan Unilever products. 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With it, began an era of marketing branded Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).<br /> Soon after followed Lifebuoy in 1895 and other famous brands like Pears, Lux and Vim. Vanaspati was launched in 1918 and the famous Dalda brand came to the market in 1937.<br />In 1931, Unilever set up its first Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company, followed by Lever Brothers India Limited (1933) and United Traders Limited (1935). These three companies merged to form HUL in November 1956; HUL offered 10% of its equity to the Indian public, being the first among the foreign subsidiaries to do so. Unilever now holds 52.10% equity in the company. The rest of the shareholding is distributed among about 360,675 individual shareholders and financial institutions.<br />The erstwhile Brooke Bond's presence in India dates back to 1900. By 1903, the company had launched Red Label tea in the country. In 1912, Brooke Bond & Co. India Limited was formed. Brooke Bond joined the Unilever fold in 1984 through an international acquisition. The erstwhile Lipton's links with India were forged in 1898. Unilever acquired Lipton in 1972, and in 1977 Lipton Tea (India) Limited was incorporated.<br />Pond's (India) Limited had been present in India since 1947. It joined the Unilever fold through an international acquisition of Chesebrough Pond's USA in 1986.<br />Since the very early years, HUL has vigorously responded to the stimulus of economic growth. The growth process has been accompanied by judicious diversification, always in line with Indian opinions and aspirations.<br />The liberalisation of the Indian economy, started in 1991, clearly marked an inflexion in HUL's and the Group's growth curve. Removal of the regulatory framework allowed the company to explore every single product and opportunity segment, without any constraints on production capacity.<br />Simultaneously, deregulation permitted alliances, acquisitions and mergers. In one of the most visible and talked about events of India's corporate history, the erstwhile Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO) merged with HUL, effective from April 1, 1993. In 1996, HUL and yet another Tata company, Lakme Limited, formed a 50:50 joint venture, Lakme Unilever Limited, to market Lakme's market-leading cosmetics and other appropriate products of both the companies. Subsequently in 1998, Lakme Limited sold its brands to HUL and divested its 50% stake in the joint venture to the company.<br />HUL formed a 50:50 joint venture with the US-based Kimberly Clark Corporation in 1994, Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd, which markets Huggies Diapers and Kotex Sanitary Pads. HUL has also set up a subsidiary in Nepal, Unilever Nepal Limited (UNL), and its factory represents the largest manufacturing investment in the Himalayan kingdom. The UNL factory manufactures HUL's products like Soaps, Detergents and Personal Products both for the domestic market and exports to India.<br />The 1990s also witnessed a string of crucial mergers, acquisitions and alliances on the Foods and Beverages front. In 1992, the erstwhile Brooke Bond acquired Kothari General Foods, with significant interests in Instant Coffee. In 1993, it acquired the Kissan business from the UB Group and the Dollops Icecream business from Cadbury India.<br />As a measure of backward integration, Tea Estates and Doom Dooma, two plantation companies of Unilever, were merged with Brooke Bond. Then in 1994, Brooke Bond India and Lipton India merged to form Brooke Bond Lipton India Limited (BBLIL), enabling greater focus and ensuring synergy in the traditional Beverages business. 1994 witnessed BBLIL launching the Wall's range of Frozen Desserts. By the end of the year, the company entered into a strategic alliance with the Kwality Icecream Group families and in 1995 the Milkfood 100% Icecream marketing and distribution rights too were acquired.<br />Finally, BBLIL merged with HUL, with effect from January 1, 1996. The internal restructuring culminated in the merger of Pond's (India) Limited (PIL) with HUL in 1998. The two companies had significant overlaps in Personal Products, Speciality Chemicals and Exports businesses, besides a common distribution system since 1993 for Personal Products. The two also had a common management pool and a technology base. The amalgamation was done to ensure for the Group, benefits from scale economies both in domestic and export markets and enable it to fund investments required for aggressively building new categories.<br />In January 2000, in a historic step, the government decided to award 74 per cent equity in Modern Foods to HUL, thereby beginning the divestment of government equity in public sector undertakings (PSU) to private sector partners. HUL's entry into Bread is a strategic extension of the company's wheat business. In 2002, HUL acquired the government's remaining stake in Modern Foods.<br />In 2003, HUL acquired the Cooked Shrimp and Pasteurised Crabmeat business of the Amalgam Group of Companies, a leader in value added Marine Products exports.<br />HUL launched a slew of new business initiatives in the early part of 2000’s. Project Shakti was started in 2001. It is a rural initiative that targets small villages populated by less than 5000 individuals. It is a unique win-win initiative that catalyses rural affluence even as it benefits business. Currently, there are over 45,000 Shakti entrepreneurs covering over 100,000 villages across 15 states and reaching to over 3 million homes.<br />In 2002, HUL made its foray into Ayurvedic health & beauty centre category with the Ayush product range and Ayush Therapy Centres. Hindustan Unilever Network, Direct to home business was launched in 2003 and this was followed by the launch of ‘Pureit’ water purifier in 2004.<br />In 2007, the Company name was formally changed to Hindustan Unilever Limited after receiving the approval of share holders during the 74th AGM on 18 May 2007. Brooke Bond and Surf Excel breached the the Rs 1,000 crore sales mark the same year followed by Wheel which crossed the Rs.2,000 crore sales milestone in 2008.<br />On 17th October 2008 , HUL completed 75 years of corporate existence in India.<br />Related Links<br />HUL 75 years Special Issue – Doing Well by Doing Good (4.4 MB)<br />Home<br />About us<br />Our history<br />Useful links<br />Contact us<br />Our vision<br />Company Structure<br />Press Releases<br />Presentations<br />Speeches<br />Downloads<br />India Local Page - 1.2 MB<br />Annual Report 2009-10 - 3.6 MBEN<br />Annual Report 2009-10 - Subsidiary Companies - 1.7 MBEN<br />HUL Sustainable Development Report 2009 - 4 MB<br />AGM Speech - 307 KB<br />HUL Factsheet - 145 KB<br />Download Library<br />Careers at Unilever<br />As one of the world's greatest consumer goods companies, we offer people with talent, passion and integrity some of the world's greatest careers.<br />How to apply<br />© Unilever 2011<br />Sitemap<br />Legal notice<br />Privacy notice<br />Accessibility<br />Contact us<br />