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Tag: Hindustan Unilever Ltd

  • Hindustan Unilever lathers up growth in FY’25 with a five per cent profit shine

    Hindustan Unilever lathers up growth in FY’25 with a five per cent profit shine

    MUMBAI:Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has managed to keep its balance sheet gleaming, reporting a five per cent jump in profit after tax to Rs 10,644 crore for FY’25, even as topline growth remained modest at two per cent. 

    The year’s big soap opera? A slick pivot to premiumisation, digital demand drivers, and a hard scrub of its product portfolio.

    For the March quarter (MQ’25), HUL clocked an underlying sales growth (USG) of 3 per cent, with volumes up two per cent. The FMCG major’s EBITDA margin stood at 23.1 per cent, slipping 30 basis points year-on-year, largely due to higher investments in innovation and future-facing channels. PAT for the quarter rose four per cent to Rs 2,497 crore.

    The home care division sparkled, with mid-single digit volume growth buoyed by strong performance in fabric conditioners and a renewed push on premium liquids like Surf Excel Smart Shots. Liquids, in fact, are the brand’s current crush – the portfolio grew in double digits and is now being democratised with new formats and price points.

    Beauty & wellbeing rose three per cent with hair care flexing double-digit volume muscle. Despite softness in mass skin care, the segment rode high on emerging channels and product launches like Liquid IV hydration sachets and summer-targeted sun care under Lakme and Vaseline.

    The personal care vertical delivered three per cent USG despite a slight volume dip. Skin cleansing lathered up high-single digit growth in the non-hygiene segment, while Closeup ventured into whitening territory with its ‘White Now’ range. Lifebuoy took centre stage at the Maha Kumbh with a refreshed ‘skin protection’ pitch.

    Food sales slipped one per cent, thanks to a drag in nutrition drinks, still reeling from pricing resets and category challenges. But there was flavour elsewhere – tea and coffee brewed growth, while ice cream melted hearts with double-digit volume gains and indulgent launches like Magnum Pistachio.

    CEO Rohit Jawa highlighted a year of “competitive performance” driven by “portfolio transformation, premiumisation and digital-first growth”. Big moves included the Minimalist acquisition, Pureit exit, and ice cream demerger approval. HUL also declared a hefty Rs 53 per share dividend (including a special Rs 10) – a total payout of Rs 12,453 crore.

    Looking ahead, the company expects demand to warm up in FY’26. With commodities stabilising, HUL is betting on low-single digit price growth and a volume-led playbook to deliver double-digit EPS growth.

    While volume may not have exploded, HUL’s strategic polish, from digital detours to premium suds, helped it stay competitive, confident, and cash-rich. Not bad for a company that just turned 90.

  • Sunscreen spat sees HUL and Mamaearth kiss and make up, with a few tweaks

    Sunscreen spat sees HUL and Mamaearth kiss and make up, with a few tweaks

    MUMBAI: The beauty world’s latest dust-up has settled, with Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) and Honasa Consumer, the brains behind Mamaearth, calling a truce after a courtroom rumble. It all kicked off when Lakmé, HUL’s flagship beauty brand, launched a “sun superiority campaign” that rather pointedly suggested some “online bestsellers” were fibbing about their SPF claims. Honasa, whose Derma Co. brand sports a rather distinctive orange, felt a tad singed, accusing Lakmé of throwing shade on their packaging and claims.

    Honasa co-founder Ghazal Alagh  took to LinkedIn with a saucy post, welcoming Lakmé to the “in-vivo tested SPF 50 club,” a move that, the Bombay High Court suggested, might have been a tad disparaging itself. HUL, not one to take such cheek lying down, hit back, claiming their tests showed some rivals were, shall we say, economising on the truth.

    But the Delhi high court, like a stern headmaster, stepped in and told both parties to play nicely. Lakmé was ordered to tweak its ad, swapping out “online bestseller” for the more vague “some sellers” and changing the offending orange to a demure light yellow. Honasa, in turn, agreed to scrub their social media jibes.

     HUL maintained that their campaign was all about keeping consumers safe from those who might be stretching the truth about SPF.

    Honasa, perhaps with a sigh of relief, agreed to take down their digital digs. Both parties also promised to remove their physical hoardings, which were apparently giving each other the evil eye, within 48 hours.
    This skirmish highlights the fiercely competitive nature of India’s Rs 2,000 crore sun care market, where brands are fighting tooth and nail for a slice of the pie. With consumer understanding of SPF still patchy, there’s plenty of room for both innovation and, it seems, a bit of the old marketing mischief.

  • Aprajit Kathuria bags top e-commerce role at Atomberg

    Aprajit Kathuria bags top e-commerce role at Atomberg

    MUMBAI: After five years of helping consumers slip into something more comfortable at Solethreads, Aprajit Kathuria has stepped into a new role as head of ecommerce at Atomberg Technologies.

    The marketing maven brings more than a dozen years of sales and marketing nous to the table, including his recent five-year stint as co-founder and chief marketing officer at the casual footwear brand, where he built the direct-to-consumer business from scratch.

    “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as head of ecommerce at Atomberg Technologies,” Kathuria announced on his LinkedIn profile.

    At Solethreads, Kathuria wore many hats—handling D2C business, performance marketing and expanding into retail with exclusive brand outlets. Under his watch, the company transformed from a bootstrapped venture to one backed by leading consumer VCs.

    His CV boasts impressive stints at consumer goods heavyweights Hindustan Unilever Ltd and Marico, where he helped establish digital-first brands and scale up e-commerce operations. At HUL, he reportedly grew monthly sales on Amazon by over 10 times in just one year.

    The computer science graduate’s career kicked off at Cavinkare, where he doubled monthly turnover within three months and achieved 90 per cent sales growth in his region.

    His academic credentials include an MBA in marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, where he participated in various marketing competitions and managed to squeeze in time for lawn tennis, singing and creative writing.

    With his knack for growing online sales and building brands from the ground up, Atomberg will be hoping Kathuria can generate some electric results in his new role.

  • HUL picks up a stake in Lucro to turn plastic waste into treasure

    HUL picks up a stake in Lucro to turn plastic waste into treasure

    MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) is putting its money where its sustainability pledge is, snapping up a 14.3 per cent stake in Lucro Plastecycle, a rising star in recycled flexible plastics. The deal, approved by HUL’s board today, marks a fresh push towards a zero plastic waste future.

    Lucro isn’t just in the business of recycling—it’s on a mission to turn trash into cash by converting post-consumer flexible plastics into high-quality recycled material. The tieup with HUL aims to boost the supply of recycled content for packaging, giving businesses a clearer path to sustainability and tackling the challenge of hard-to-recycle plastics.

    “This investment is a significant step in building the capabilities in recycling and developing the circular economy model for plastic, which is in line with our firm belief that what is good for India is good for HUL,” said  HUL CEO & MD  Rohit Jawa.

    Lucro managing director  Ujwal Desai said the deal will help ramp up recycling capacity and drive large-scale commercial adoption of post-consumer resin. “This investment by HUL paves the way for us to set a new benchmark for sustainable plastics,” he said.

    HUL, India’s biggest FMCG player, already reaches nine out of ten Indian households—and now, it wants to clean up the planet while it’s at it.

  • HUL seals the deal: Uprising Science takeover gets CCI nod

    HUL seals the deal: Uprising Science takeover gets CCI nod

    MUMBAI:  Hindustan Unilever Ltd  (HUL) is set to expand its beauty and personal care empire, acquiring a 90.5 per cent stake in Uprising Science Pvt Ltd , with the remaining 9.5 per cent to follow in two years. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given the green light to the transaction under Section 6(2) read with Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002.

    HUL, a behemoth in the FMCG space, boasts a portfolio spanning home care, beauty and personal care, and food and refreshments. Its 50+ brands include household names like Lux, Surf Excel, Lakmé, Knorr, and Kwality Wall’s. With manufacturing facilities across India and a vast distribution network, the company dominates the consumer market.

    Uprising Science, the target in this acquisition, specialises in beauty and personal care, particularly skincare, body care, baby care and hair care products. The acquisition is expected to strengthen HUL’s grip on the premium beauty segment, expanding its product range and market share.

    The companies argued that the deal won’t shake up India’s competitive landscape. However, they acknowledged overlaps in key markets, including skincare and haircare, as well as vertical linkages such as sales through beauty salons. The strategic move aligns with HUL’s broader push into high-growth personal care categories.

    With CCI’s approval in the bag, HUL is set to make further waves in the beauty business. Expect bold moves ahead.

  • Ogilvy & Sunlight launch campaign for Durga Pujo

    Ogilvy & Sunlight launch campaign for Durga Pujo

    Mumbai: Durga Pujo is a wardrobe refresh for all Bengalis. For five days, the city of joy witnesses a dizzying panorama of colourful apparel. As such, the days leading up to the festival are spent on diligent shopping. Oceans of crowds flood the malls and retail stores, big and small, looking for the perfect length, the ideal cut, and all the irresistible bright colours. For all intents and purposes, these shopping meccas are a rich pool of potential consumers. They lead to an untapped audience that can be persuaded, inspired and informed. That’s just what Sunlight did with its Pujo-shopping hack.

    All Sunlight had to do, without fuss or fret, was to hack unbranded shopping bags, umbrellas and gift boxes with the accompanying message: Notun jama kinun praan bhore, Sunlight rong rakhbe dhore (Shop for new clothes to your heart’s content, Sunlight will keep its colours as good as new). It is an assurance to shoppers who would otherwise think twice before investing in colourful choices. The aim was to encourage worry-free shopping, with the knowledge that Sunlight will retain the colours of these new clothes long after Pujo is over.

    To drive home the message, spaces outside shopping malls and retail stores with the most footfalls were hacked as well. Even local hawker chants were hacked to drive home the brand’s message effectively. Even outdoor spaces were hacked. Sunlight’s outdoor communications were placed right next to outdoors advertising new Pujo clothes. All the hacks came together to reinforce the brand’s message in unison.  

    Ogilvy senior executive creative director Sujoy Roy said: “It was an idea that was right there in front of our eyes. Durga Pujo is the annual Bengali wardrobe refresh. New clothes are bought, gifted and hoarded. As a fabric care brand we just had to assure people that we are there to take care of their new clothes and keep them as good as new after several washes. That’s it. All we had to do was hack all relevant media spaces with a single line. Sunlight took up the responsibility of protecting the new clothes that people would buy for Pujo and wherever we found a piece of communication asking people to buy new clothes we put up our communication.”

    Unilever head, fabric cleaning, Aditya Kasyap says: “Sunlight is Unilever’s oldest and West Bengal’s largest Fabric Care brand, with a legacy of over 130 years! Sunlight’s promise of superior colour care for fabrics is brought alive in an innovative way with a shopping hack this Pujo, reaffirming the brand’s identify in Bengals cultural fabric.”

     

     

  • Pond’s Skin Institute unveils a new TVC campaign

    Pond’s Skin Institute unveils a new TVC campaign

    Mumbai: Pond’s Skin Institute, a global beauty brand with a history spanning more than 175 years has introduced brand ambassadors, Kiara Advani and Keerthy Suresh in an all new TVC campaign featuring the brand in a premium and elevated avatar. With scientific expertise and beauty development at the very heart of the campaign, these TVC’s usher in a new era of Pond’s in India and aim to connect with skincare enthusiasts across the country.

    While the brand has launched two different commercials featuring each ambassador to reach consumers effectively nationwide, both films immerse viewers in the journey to radiant and flawless skin. The TVCs are set in the exciting new universe of Pond’s, featuring Kiara and Keerthy addressing common skincare concerns and emphasizing on the science and effectiveness of the Pond’s Bright Beauty Range. The range includes serum, facewash and more, formulated with Niacinamide to fade dark spots and pigmentation to reveal radiant glowing skin. By highlighting relatable experiences, the TVC’s underscore Pond’s Skin Institute’s dedication to creating skincare solutions that help women achieve their desired skincare goals.

    Commenting on the newly launched TVC Hindustan Unilever Ltd skincare head, beauty & wellbeing Pratik Ved said, “At this exciting juncture for Pond’s Skin Institute, we proudly celebrate our heritage with the unveiling of an advanced skincare range. By seamlessly blending the finest elements of science, beauty mastery, and innovation, we invite people to rediscover and experience the brand in an all-new avatar. This reinvention is guided by our brand-new communication for Pond’s, which focuses on the impact of life on skin and beauty. With ground-breaking scientific innovations, we remain committed to making miracles happen for your skin, ensuring we stay ahead of the curve in today’s ever-changing beauty landscape while honoring our 175-year legacy.”

    Ogilvy India chief creative officers Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Kainaz Karmakar said “The new chapter of Pond’s has science at its heart. This can be seen in not just the communication, but the packaging and the products too. The world of beauty is changing at a super rapid pace. Ingredients are taking centre stage, and consumers are investing time in deeply knowing their skin and beauty products. The way forward on Pond’s is in line with this new world.”

    The TVCs are now airing nationwide across traditional and digital platforms, showcasing the brand’s rich heritage of skincare innovation and excellence. Consumers can experience breakthrough innovations from Pond’s Skin Institute first-hand with the new Bright Beauty Range, available at retailers nationwide.

  • Vim takes a strong stance on chores neutrality

    Vim takes a strong stance on chores neutrality

    Mumbai: This Valentine’s Day, Vim, a dishwash brand under Hindustan Unilever Ltd, has put forth a fresh perspective on modern love with their latest campaign #OwnYourOwnDishes.

    In collaboration with their creative digital agency, Interactive Avenues, and India’s first women’s channel, SheThePeopleTV, the brand has launched a special vodcast addressing gender stereotypes when it comes to household responsibilities. The thought-provoking episode features a heartfelt conversation with renowned poetess, actress and columnist – Priya Malik.

    Delving into Priya’s dynamic life experiences and unique perspectives, the vodcast talks about how love also means equality in chores and how everyone needs to own their own chores. It highlights the importance of defying traditional gender roles when it comes to managing mundane household tasks like the never-ending pile of dishes.

    “With ‘Love, Life & A Sinkful of Dishes’, our aim was to help people build stronger and more equitable relationships through modern interpretations of love. Vim is trusted by millions of Indian consumers, and we are delighted to be shaping such impactful conversations along with the brand,” said Interactive Avenues senior creative director Eshwari Pandit.

  • “The ASCI Academy is a timely response to the changing advertising landscape marked by shorter campaigns”: ASCI’s Manisha Kapoor

    “The ASCI Academy is a timely response to the changing advertising landscape marked by shorter campaigns”: ASCI’s Manisha Kapoor

    Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has unveiled the ASCI Academy, a pioneering initiative poised to amplify the advertising industry’s capacity to create more responsible and progressive advertising campaigns. Building upon ASCI’s established corrective role which comes alive post ad publication, this  pioneering platform embeds self-regulation right at the point of the inception of  advertisements.

    In today’s digital landscape, characterised by brief campaign durations and a surge in number of advertisers, the ASCI Academy is positioned to empower current and future industry professionals including influencers and students with a foundational understanding of advertising regulations, ensuring ethical practices from the outset.

    The ASCI Academy’s core mission is to cultivate a cohort of advertising professionals dedicated to upholding responsibility in advertising, ultimately upholding consumer trust in brands.

    The Academy has over 50 founding partners and supporters including Cipla Health Ltd, Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd, Diageo India, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Mondelez India Foods Pvt Ltd, Nestlé India Ltd, PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Pvt Ltd, several leading universities and colleges, prominent Civil society organisations such as Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, Consumer Voice, CUTS, CMS and others, and, industry bodies  like the ISA, AAAI, IAA and ISWAI, as well as research insight organisations.

    Indiantelevision.com caught up with ASCI CEO & secretary general Manisha Kapoor, where she provides details on the reason for launching this academy, on ASCI guidelines, and more….

    Edited excerpts

    On the reason for forming  ASCI Academy

    The ASCI Academy is a timely response to the changing advertising landscape marked by shorter campaigns and a surge in advertisers. It aims to shift self-regulation from ad publication to creation, emphasizing ethical practices from the outset. By consolidating ASCI’s thought leadership and education programs, the Academy equips industry professionals, influencers, and students with a deep understanding of advertising regulations, promoting responsible advertising practices right from the start. It’s a pivotal move towards fostering ethical advertising practices in an evolving industry.

    On the aim behind ASCI altering its guidelines on health & finance influencers

    ASCI updated its guidelines for health and finance influencers to adapt to the changing digital landscape and combat potential issues related to misleading advertising in these sectors. The aim is to ensure greater transparency, accuracy, and responsibility in influencer marketing, especially in areas where misinformation can have serious consequences.

    For health influencers, the new guidelines require them to possess suitable qualifications in the health and nutrition field. This ensures that influencers have the necessary knowledge to provide accurate information about health-related products.

    For financial influencers, particularly in the BFSI sector, SEBI registration is now mandatory when offering investment advice. Qualifications are also required for other financial advice, enhancing the credibility and reliability of financial guidance provided by influencers.

    These changes align with the Department of Consumer Affairs’ and other government entities’ mandate, requires experts, celebrities, and influencers in health, fitness, and finance to disclose their qualifications when endorsing products or services. This step will help in ensuring consumers receive reliable information, especially in the era of widespread financial advice on social media.

    On  consumers relying on influencers despite of tons of misinformation available on the internet

    Despite the abundance of misinformation on the internet, consumers continue to rely on influencers for several compelling reasons, as revealed in ASCI’s Influencer Trust Report (Feb. 2023). The report, based on a survey of 820 individuals, found that 79 per cent of respondents trust influencers. This trust significantly impacts consumer behavior, with 90 per cent of respondents admitting to making at least one purchase influenced by an influencer’s recommendation. Consumers have a unique relationship with influencers, relying on them for advice and product suggestions. This trust in influencers has made influencer marketing a highly effective tool for brands.

    In essence, consumers’ trust in influencers persists because these digital personalities have successfully built credibility, authenticity, and relatability in the eyes of their followers. As a result, their recommendations carry significant weight and impact consumer behavior, contributing to the enduring popularity and effectiveness of influencer marketing in the digital age.

    On ASCI benefiting from the various tie-ups to educational institutes

    ASCI’s collaborations with educational institutions through the ASCI Academy strategically close the knowledge gap in academia. While schools excel in teaching marketing effectiveness, they often overlook regulatory and ethical aspects in communication—a critical omission given the impact on brand reputation and risk.

    These alliances empower ASCI to seamlessly integrate ethical and regulatory dimensions into academic curricula. Future marketing professionals not only grasp marketing effectiveness but also understand their ethical obligations in communication. This enriches ASCI’s programs, shaping students who appreciate that ethical advertising practices are vital not just for compliance but also for safeguarding brand reputation in our closely monitored digital age.

    Beyond education, these partnerships bring fresh perspectives, keep ASCI at the industry’s forefront, and nurture emerging talents. Our collaborations enhance ASCI’s thought leadership, bolstering its programs and promoting relevant research, cementing its status as a major influencer in advertising ethics and regulation.

    Our partnerships provide fresh perspectives, keeping ASCI up-to-date with industry trends and ethics. We spot and support emerging talent during their academic journey, ensuring a future workforce versed in responsible advertising. These collaborations also enhance ASCI’s thought leadership, strengthen educational programs, and promote industry-related research, solidifying ASCI as a pivotal influence in advertising ethics and regulation.

    On ASCI’s guidelines on generative AI in today’s advertising world

    In the world of contemporary advertising, Generative AI has emerged as a dominant force. It has transformed the landscape by allowing advertisers to automate the creation of diverse content, spanning from text and images to articles and marketing materials. While this technology presents incredible opportunities, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges and risks it brings. These challenges include potential copyright issues, the need to prevent the generation of unlawful content and concerns related to data privacy.

    At ASCI, we recognise the significance of Generative AI in Advertising, we have taken a proactive step by releasing a comprehensive whitepaper titled ‘Leveraging Generative AI: Opportunities, Risks, and Best Practices.’ This paper highlights the existing regulatory uncertainties and the complexities involved in employing AI in advertising.

    As the evolving landscape continues to present uncertainties, we acknowledge there are several ambiguities. Prior to the establishment of formalized guidelines, advertisers can refer to the principles outlined in our whitepaper. These principles can serve as a valuable framework for making decisions regarding accountability, operational transparency, and assessing the broader societal impact of AI in advertising.

  • Wavemaker and HUL bag top honours at Emvies 2022

    Wavemaker and HUL bag top honours at Emvies 2022

    Mumbai: Wavemaker and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) grabbed the top honours at the 22nd edition of Emvie Awards, organised by The Advertising Club on Friday at Taj Lands’ End here. The much-anticipated event celebrated the very best of strategic, ground breaking and high impact media campaigns by media agencies in the year gone by.

    Wavemaker with 395 points was recognised as ‘The Media Agency of the Year,’ while also bagging the Grand Emvie for Mondelez India Foods for the Cadbury Celebrations – Not Just a Cadbury Ad (Best Response to Covid-19).

    Mindshare with 375 points stood second and Lodestar with 160 points stood third.

    HUL was declared as ‘The Media Client of the Year.’

    ‘The Best Implementation Team of the Year’ award went to Wavemaker for Mondelez India Food for Cadbury Celebrations  – Not Just a Cadbury Ad

    This year, The Advertising Club (TAC) received 1,054 entries with around 25 agencies participating in the competition to win the prestigious media award. More than 1,200 professionals from the media, marketing, advertising and research fraternities, witnessed 26 gold and 51 silver Emvie trophies being presented to the winners in addition to 42 bronze winners receiving recognition.

    Google, the ‘presenting sponsor’ instituted special recognition for work done in the area of “Inclusion.” The campaign that bagged the honour was McDonald’s  – Eatqual – One Bite Closer to Equality by the agency DDB Mudra Group. This will be a regular category in the Emvie entry form from the next year, it was announced. 

    The Times of India Group instituted the Pradeep Guha trophy for the category ‘Young Emvie of the Year.’ The Pradeep Guha trophy was on stage by Partha Sinha- president, Dia Mirza as distinguished guest, and Papia Guha, wife of the late Pradeep Guha.

    Emvie Committee chairperson Aditya Swamy said, “It is the privilege of The Ad Club to shine the light on the best work in our industry and it is our endeavour through our award shows to inspire our community to keep raising the bar.”

    “It’s great to be back on the ground. The energy was infectious and the agency and clients had an excellent time celebrating the spirit of excellence. The winners were not only just best in class in India but they were of global standard. No wonder Emvies is called the Oscar of media awards,” said The Advertising Club president Partha Sinha.

    The awards were presented by Google, powered by Colors and in association with The Times of India.

    The entire list of the winners is as given below: 

    1. EMVIE 2022 Agency of the Year

    2. EMVIE 2022 The Client of the Year

    3. EMVIE 2022 Results