Hindustan Unilever Explained

Hindustan Unilever Limited
Type:Public
Location City:Mumbai, Maharashtra
Location Country:India
Predecessor:Indian Vanaspati Manufacturing Company (1931–1956)
Lever Brothers India Limited (1933–1956)
United Traders Limited (1935–1956)
Hindustan Lever Limited (1956–2007)
Key People:Rohit Jawa (CEO)[1]
Industry:Consumer goods
Revenue: (2024)[2]
Operating Income: (2024)
Net Income: (2024)
Assets: (2024)
Equity: (2024)
Num Employees:27,764 (2024)(including 19,109 workers)
Parent:Unilever plc (61.90%)

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a British-owned Indian final goods company headquartered in Mumbai.[3] It is a subsidiary of the British company Unilever. Its products include foods, beverages, cleaning agents, personal care products, water purifiers, and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).

HUL was established in 1931 as Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Co. Following a merger of constituent groups in 1956, it was renamed Hindustan Lever Limited. The company was renamed again in June 2007 as Hindustan Unilever Limited.[4]

Hindustan Unilever has been at the helm of a lot of controversies, such as dumping highly toxic mercury-contaminated waste in regular dumps, contaminating the land and water of Kodaikanal. (See: Kodaikanal mercury poisoning). The British company also faced major flak for an advertising campaign attacking the Hindu pilgrimage site at Kumbh Mela, calling it a "place where old people get abandoned,"[5] [6] a move that was termed racist and insensitive.

As of 2019, Hindustan Unilever's portfolio had more than 50 product brands in 14 categories. The company has 21,000 employees and recorded sales of ₹34,619 crores in FY2017–18.

In December 2018, HUL announced its acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline India's consumer business for US$3.8 billion in an all-equity merger deal with a 1:4.39 ratio.[7] [8] However, the integration of GSK's 3,800 employees remained uncertain as HUL stated there was no clause for retention of employees in the deal.[8] In April 2020, HUL completed its merger with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH India) after completing all legal procedures.[9] In December 2022, HUL's market cap was Rs. 638548.42 crore.[10]

Presence

Hindustan Unilever's corporate headquarters are located in Andheri, Mumbai. The campus is spread over 12.5 acres of land and houses over 1,600 employees.[11] The Campus is designed by Mumbai-based architecture firm Kapadia Associates.[12]

The company's previous headquarters were located in Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai at the Lever House, where it was housed for more than 46 years.[13]

The Hindustan Unilever Research Centre (HURC) was set up in 1966 in Mumbai, and Unilever Research India in Bangalore in 1997. In 2006, the company's research facilities were brought together at a single site in Bangalore.[14]

Controversies

Mercury pollution

See main article: Kodaikanal mercury poisoning.

In 2001 a thermometer factory in Kodaikanal run by Hindustan Unilever dumped glass contaminated with mercury in C. Raj Kumar, and selling it on to scrap merchants unable to deal with it appropriately.[15] Protests by local NGOs and Greenpeace lead to the shutting of the factory in March 2001.[16] After protest by activists led by Deepak Malghan of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore Hindustan Unilever admitted before court to being guilty in the case in 2010.[17] [18]

Skin lightening creams

Hindustan Unilever's "Glow & Lovely" is the leading skin-lightening cream for women in India.[19] The company had to cease television advertisements for the product in 2007. Advertisements depicted depressed, dark-complexioned women, who had been ignored by employers and men, suddenly finding new boyfriends and glamorous careers after the cream had lightened their skin.[20] In 2008, Hindustan Unilever made former Miss World Priyanka Chopra a brand ambassador for Pond's,[21] and she then appeared in a mini-series of television commercials for another skin lightening product, 'White Beauty', alongside Saif Ali Khan and Neha Dhupia; these advertisements, showing Priyanka's face with a clearly darker complexion against the visibly fairer Neha Dhupia, were widely criticised for perpetuating racism[22] and lowering the self-esteem of women and girls throughout India who were misled by HUL to believe that they needed to be white to be beautiful. The company rebranded the cream from Fair and Lovely to Glow and Lovely, removing the word Fair from the brand.

Triclosan

Several academic papers have pointed out the firm's continued use of the antibacterial agent Triclosan ('Active B') in India because it is under review by the American Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).[23]

Kumbh Mela ad

In March 2019, HUL's advertisement for its beverage Brooke Bond Red Label tea was criticised on social media. A company tweet referred to the Kumbh Mela as a place where elderly people get abandoned by their family members.[24] [25] This resulted in a severe backlash in the form of an adverse hashtag trending on Twitter '#BoycottHindustanUnilever'.[26]

Awards

The Institute of Competitiveness, India, recognized Hindustan Unilever Limited's Project Shakti for ‘Creating Shared Value’ and gave the company the Porter Prize for 2014. It ranked number one on the Forbes list of ‘Most Innovative Companies’ globally for 2014.[27] It also received an award as a 'Conscious Capitalist of the Year' at the 2013 Forbes India Leadership Awards.[28] Unilever was named the fourth most respected company in India in a survey conducted by Business World in 2013.[29]

In a 2015 Nielsen Campus Track-business school survey, Hindustan Unilever was among the top employers of choice for B-school students graduating that year. It has often been called a 'Dream Employer' for application by B-School students in India.[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] In 2012, it was recognised as one of the world's most innovative companies by Forbes. With a ranking of number 6, it was the highest ranked FMCG company.[35]

HUL is one of the country's largest exporters; it has been recognised as a Golden Super Star Trading House by the Government of India.[36]

Brands and products

HUL is the market leader in Indian consumer products with presence in over 20 consumer categories such as soaps, tea, detergents and shampoos amongst others with over 700 million Indian consumers using its products. Sixteen of HUL's brands featured in the Nielsen Corporation Brand Equity list of 100 Most Trusted Brands Annual Survey (2014), carried out by Brand Equity, a supplement of The Economic Times.[37]

Food

Homecare

Source:[45]

Personal care

Source:[47]

Water purifier

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Board of HUL. hul.co.in. HUL. 25 September 2014. 28 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181128210932/https://www.hul.co.in/about/who-we-are/our-leadership/. live.
  2. Web site: Hindustan Unilever Annual Reports. hul.co.in.
  3. Web site: Introduction to HUL. 12 November 2015. HUL. 9 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170209064711/https://www.hul.co.in/about/who-we-are/introduction-to-hindustan-unilever/. live.
  4. Web site: Transition to new name was smooth: HUL. Srinivasan. Lalitha. 31 July 2007. The Financial Express. Mumbai. 31 October 2013. 3 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103212335/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/transition-to-new-name-was-smooth-hul/207944. live.
  5. Web site: 2019-03-07 . Hindustan Unilever faces flak over Red Label ad showing son 'abandoning' father at Kumbh Mela . 2023-03-17 . cnbctv18.com . en.
  6. Web site: #BoycottHindustanUnilever Trends After Ad On Kumbh Mela Faces Criticism . 2023-03-17 . NDTV.com.
  7. Web site: GSK Consumer Healthcare to merge with Hindustan Unilever: Here are 10 things you should know. www.businesstoday.in. 3 December 2018. 8 March 2019. 27 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190327085751/https://www.businesstoday.in/top-story/hindustan-unilever-limitedhulglaxosmithklinegsk-chhorlicksboost/story/296927.html. live.
  8. Web site: HUL-GSK deal: 3,800 employees face uncertainty, decision awaited. www.businesstoday.in. 6 December 2018. 8 March 2019. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121341/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy-politics/story/hul-gsk-deal-3800-employees-face-uncertainty-decision-awaited-118923-2018-12-06. live.
  9. News: HUL expects to complete merger with GSK Consumer Healthcare in 2019. 20 January 2019 . Medical Dialogues . https://web.archive.org/web/20120829010101/https://business.medicaldialogues.in/hul%2Dexpects%2Dto%2Dcomplete%2Dmerger%2Dwith%2Dgsk%2Dconsumer%2Dhealthcare%2Din%2D2019/. dead . 29 August 2012 .
  10. Web site: Top 100 stocks by Market Capitalization BSE Listed stocks Market Capitalization . 2022-12-19 . www.bseindia.com.
  11. Web site: HUL moves to new campus | 2010 | Hindustan Unilever . Hindustan Unilever . 12 July 2012 . 22 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120622233943/http://www.hul.co.in/mediacentre/news/2010/HULMovesToNewCampus.aspx . live .
  12. Web site: Designed for leverage - Livemint. livemint.com. 3 February 2010. 16 December 2016. 20 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220175320/http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/SM1DA6bKK9PUvonWPMmlQJ/Designed-for-leverage.html. live.
  13. Web site: Atlas Integrated Finance Ltd. Aifl.net. 10 February 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103183229/http://www.aifl.net/CompanyProfile/Company_Profile.aspx?id=93&FinCode=100696. 3 November 2013.
  14. http://www.hul.co.in/careers-redesign/carreerschoices/researchanddevelopment/OverviewofResearchCentres/ Overview of Research Centres
  15. Web site: Jayaraman . Nityanand . April 2001 . Unilever's Dumping Fever . https://web.archive.org/web/20010727143129/http://www.ban.org/Library/unilevers.html . 27 July 2001 . 31 October 2013 . Multinational Monitor. - via Ban.org.
  16. Web site: 30 June 2002 . Greenpeace wants probe into Kodaikanal mercury pollution . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121344/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Greenpeace-wants-probe-into-Kodaikanal-mercury-pollution/articleshow/14589307.cms . 4 September 2022 . 1 June 2020 . Times of India.
  17. Web site: Hiddleston . Sarah . 24 September 2010 . Poisoned Ground . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104235613/http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2719/stories/20100924271900400.htm . 4 November 2013 . 31 October 2013 . Frontline . The Hindu . 27 . 19.
  18. Web site: Jayaraman . Nityanand . 31 July 2010 . One gram mercury can kill a 25-acre lake. A plant has leached mercury for 10 years into Kodai . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120925225416/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main46.asp?filename=Cr310710onegram.asp . 25 September 2012 . 31 October 2013 . Tehelka Magazine . Anant Media Pvt. Ltd. . 7 . 30.
  19. Anushay Hossain, The Color Complex: Is the Fixation Really Fair?, Sapna, 10 March 2008
  20. News: Dhillon . Amrit . 1 July 2009 . India's hue and cry over paler skin . Daily Telegraph . dead . 3 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070712034146/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F07%2F01%2Fwskin101.xml . 12 July 2007.
  21. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/priyanka-chopra-is-the-new-face-of-ponds_10045728.html Priyanka Chopra is the new face of Ponds
  22. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/2279971/Criticism-in-India-over-skin-whitening-trend.html Criticism in India over skin-whitening trend
  23. See for example Cross . Jamie . Street . Alice . August 2009 . Anthropology at the Bottom of the Pyramid . Anthropology Today . 25 . 4 . 4–9 . 10.1111/j.1467-8322.2009.00675.x . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306064843/http://files.dropbox.com/u/90728/CrossStreet2008_ABOP.pdf . 6 March 2012 . 2008. Reprinted in Book: Introductory Readings In Anthropology . March 2013 . Berghahn Books & The Royal Anthological Institute . 9780857459688 . Callan . Hilary . 232–40 . 7 November 2016 . Street . Brian . Underdown . Simon . https://web.archive.org/web/20170215054115/https://books.google.com/books?id=xrRQAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA232 . 15 February 2017 . live.
  24. Web site: Ambwani . Meenakshi Verma . 7 March 2019 . HUL in deep water over Kumbh-theme ad . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121436/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hul-in-deep-water-over-kumbh-theme-ad/article26458602.ece . 4 September 2022 . 9 March 2019 . @businessline.
  25. Web site: 7 March 2019 . Hindustan Unilever faces backlash for calling Kumbh Mela 'place where old people get abandoned' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121406/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/hindustan-unilever-faces-backlash-calling-kumbh-mela-place-where-old-people-get-abandoned-174468-2019-03-07 . 4 September 2022 . 9 March 2019 . www.businesstoday.in.
  26. Web site: #BoycottHindustanUnilever Trends After Ad On Kumbh Mela Faces Criticism . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190725002415/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kumb-mela-ad-boycotthindustanunilever-trends-after-red-label-tea-ad-faces-criticism-2004261 . 25 July 2019 . 25 July 2019 . NDTV.com.
  27. Web site: The World's most innovative companies. 31 October 2014. forbes. 29 August 2017. 4 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121204145428/http://www.forbes.com/innovative-companies/list/. live.
  28. Web site: Conscious Capitalist of the Year. 31 October 2013. ForbesIndia. 19 November 2013. 9 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131109065502/http://forbesindia.com/article/leaderhip-awards-2013/hindustan-unilever-marrying-business-with-social-good/36391/1. live.
  29. Web site: Most Respected Company in India. Businessworld. https://web.archive.org/web/20140514035948/http://www.businessworld.in/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=725150d4-f5f6-4bb6-bd27-d1e9aa078ada&groupId=520986. 14 May 2014. dead.
  30. News: Grooming people is in our genes, says HUL's Paranjpe. Basu. Sreeradha D. 13 February 2013. Economictimes. 18 February 2013. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121345/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/grooming-people-is-in-our-genes-says-huls-paranjpe/articleshow/18473329.cms. live.
  31. Web site: Hindustan Unilever Limited has emerged as the No.1 employer of choice for B-School students. Hindustan Unilever. 18 February 2013. 16 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130616053946/http://www.hul.co.in/mediacentre/newsandfeatures/2013/HUL-is-the-No1-Employer-of-Choice-in-India.aspx. live.
  32. Web site: FMCG, management firms most preferred campus recruiters: Nielsen. Choudhary. Vidhi. 12 February 2013. LiveMint. 18 February 2013. 3 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103180010/http://www.livemint.com/Companies/PwBwcniPR59AE7jBoufroL/FMCG-management-firms-most-preferred-campus-recruiters-Nie.html. live.
  33. Web site: Advertising is the industry of the future: Nielson B-School Survey. 13 February 2013. Exchange4Media. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130216105036/http://www.exchange4media.com/49807_advertising-is-the-industry-of-the-future-nielson-b-school-survey.html. 16 February 2013.
  34. News: HUL is employer of choice: Nielsen. 13 February 2013. Business Standard. Saraswathy. M.. 18 February 2013. 17 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217181223/http://www.business-standard.com/article/management/hul-is-employer-of-choice-nielsen-113021300164_1.html. live.
  35. Web site: The World's Most Innovative Companies. Forbes. 7 November 2012. 4 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104092227/http://www.forbes.com/special-features/innovative-companies.html. live.
  36. Web site: Hindustan Unilever Ltd Background details about Company Profile. Indiainfoline.com. 10 February 2012. 21 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141121200702/http://www.indiainfoline.com/company/hindustan-unilever-ltd/255. live.
  37. Web site: 22 October 2014 . Most Trusted Brands 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141023234746/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-22/news/55318723_1_trusted-brands-survey-brand-equity-dettol . 23 October 2014 . 22 October 2010 . Economic Times.
  38. Web site: Hellmann's. 3 May 2022. Hindustan Unilever Limited website. en. 26 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220426124929/https://www.hul.co.in/brands/foods-refreshment/hellmanns/. live.
  39. Web site: Magnum Ice-cream . 3 May 2022 . Hindustan Unilever Limited website .
  40. Web site: Cornetto. 3 May 2022. Hindustan Unilever Limited website. en. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121341/https://www.hul.co.in/brands/ice-cream/cornetto/. live.
  41. Web site: Horlicks. 6 August 2020. Hindustan Unilever Limited website. en. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121352/https://www.hul.co.in/brands/nutrition/horlicks/. live.
  42. Web site: Nature Protect. 3 May 2022. Hindustan Unilever official website. 4 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220904121342/https://www.hul.co.in/brands/home-care/nature-protect/. live.
  43. Web site: Magic – Water Saver . 14 August 2012 . 5 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120805054845/http://www.hul.co.in/mediacentre/newsandfeatures/2012/HULLaunchesMagicWaterSaver.aspx . live .
  44. News: Magic – Water Saver . The Times of India . 25 June 2012 . 14 August 2012 . 16 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130416081311/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-06-25/news/32409210_1_pureit-water-purifier-hul . live .
  45. Web site: Home care brands | Hindustan Unilever . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111222151620/http://www.hul.co.in/brands/homecarebrands/ . 22 December 2011 . 10 February 2012 . Hindustan Unilever.
  46. News: TRESemmé . Hindustan Unilever . 1 November 2012 . 26 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141026204134/http://www.hul.co.in/brands-in-action/detail/TRESemm-/311858/ . live .
  47. Web site: Personal care brands | Hindustan Unilever . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111229211105/http://www.hul.co.in/brands/personalcarebrands/ . 29 December 2011 . 10 February 2012 . Hindustan Unilever.

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