Page 2 - Unilever

Focusing on competitive growth in India, expects price cut, says Unilever

Multinational FMCG firm Unilever is focusing on driving competitive volume growth in the Indian market and expects a price reduction in its products "if current commodity prices persist". In the December quarter, its India business HUL grew to mid-single digit led by volume, with lower input costs that led to negative pricing in the fourth quarter, Unilever said in its earnings statement on Thursday. "We are focused on driving competitive volume growth while pricing is expected to remain marginally negative if current commodity prices persist," it said. In the Indian market, Unilever's sales were flat in the fourth quarter as pricing turned negative, mainly driven by price reductions in fabric cleaning and skin cleansing bars as a result of commodity movements. This also impacted Unilever's overall fabric cleaning segment, which was negative in the December quarter, as the "pricing reflects commodity deflation, particularly in India," it added. Moreover, the company also had a tax

Unilever launches $1.6 share billion buyback after sales volumes rise

Unilever's shares rose as much as 4% on Thursday, hitting their highest point since it last reported earnings in October

Unilever's US, European market share slips as private label booms

Unilever's underlying price growth was 13.3% at its height in the fourth quarter of 2022, with prices at its home care business up nearly 17%

Unilever CEO Schumacher's strategy plan fails to excite investors: Report

Consumer goods industry has struggled for more than two years with soaring costs

India growth is competitive in dynamic market, says Unilever CFO

In the Q1FY24 results announced last week, HUL reported a volume growth of 3 per cent

Ukraine invasion: FMCG major Unilever to continue operations in Russia

Unilever has defended its decision to maintain operations in Russia citing the challenges of exiting the market and the potential consequences for its employees as reasons for its continued presence

3.45% increase in royalty to parent Unilever after detailed evaluation: HUL

The decision to increase royalty to 3.45 per cent to parent Unilever was taken after a detailed evaluation and due diligence, Hindustan Unilever Ltd Chairman Nitin Paranjpe said on Monday. Earlier this year, leading FMCG maker Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) increased the royalty paid to Unilever PLC to 3.45 per cent of the total turnover, which will be effected in phases over the next three years. Earlier, this was 2.65 per cent. While addressing the shareholders in response to a question about the rationale of such an increase, Paranjpe said the change was made "after plenty of due diligence and satisfying ourselves that we are getting adequate value for this payment that is royalty payment which is being made". Before this, the company has also looked at the royalty paid by other FMCG companies to their parent global firms, he said. The contract terms that "we have got, were subjected to a detailed evaluation and due diligence first by a senior team from within the company. And the

Successor to face increasingly heated competition, says Unilever India CEO

International corporates are turning their attention to India, while large local firms have "big aspirations" to expand their reach, said Sanjiv Mehta

Unilever hunts for new chair after botched takeover, investor rows

The company has shaken up its top ranks after appointing activist investor Nelson Peltz to the board last year

Best of BS Opinion: Stressing stability, freebies in a prosperous state

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

SHE can coexist with enterprise

Unilever has successfully demonstrated how virtue can be sustained over generations in enterprise. Can the same be said about venerable Indian companies?

Rural slowdown bottoming out, gradual recovery in volume expected: HUL

The rural slowdown is "bottoming out" and a gradual recovery in volume is expected, helped by government initiatives to drive the economy there along with moderation of inflation, FMCG firm HUL's CFO Ritesh Tiwari said on Thursday. Though the rural growth was still down 3 per cent in the quarter ended March 31, 2023, it is on the right path of recovery with overall commodities price moderation, Tiwari said in an earnings call. "Everything is going in the right direction," he said, adding, with a good level of government expenditure to drive the rural economy, moderation of inflation and 6 to 6.4 per cent growth of country's GDP. While talking about the overall FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) market, Tiwari said, "the latest three-month market numbers are 11 per cent growth but volumes are flat. This is a better sign for the industry." Even if the volume is flat, he said, it is better "compared to what we had last year, about 4 per cent negative volumes in the previous quarter. So

Hindustan Unilever's earnings margin shrinks after increased commodity cost

HUL shares fell about 2%, taking their total declines this year to nearly 4%

Unilever's cloud-only approach will improve resilience, strengthen security

It will also help Unilever to identify trends and make decisions faster

Royalty costs for benefit of all shareholders, not just Unilever: HUL CEO

'Mom-and-pop stores will remain the most dominant channel even after a decade, and in a highly digitised form'

India's rural markets impacted due to high food inflation: Unilever CEO

Jope said the company saw 15.6 per cent growth in the country during the quarter, during which price and volume were up 11.2% and 3.9%, respectively

Hein Schumacher is the new CEO of Unilever after Tangle With Peltz

Schumacher joined Unilever's board as an independent director in June, just a month after Peltz obtained a seat

Market value up, but volumes declining in India: Unilever CEO Alan Jope

The consumption weakness is due to the impact of inflation, particularly in rural areas, he said

Unilever downbeat on Europe, China consumer sentiment; raise prices

Like the rest of the consumer goods industry, Unilever's margins have been squeezed since the start of the war in Ukraine that has pushed up costs of energy and key ingredients

Dove dry shampoo recall in US: Mkt too small, no impact likely in India

Nykaa had listed the US as the country of origin for the Dove and Tresemme dry shampoo products sold on its platform