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Tag: Hindustan Unilever

  • Indulekha enters serum space with Ayurvedic boost to scalp care

    Indulekha enters serum space with Ayurvedic boost to scalp care

     MUMBAI: Goodbye greasy hair days, hello Ayurvedic innovation. Indulekha, the beloved Ayurvedic haircare brand known for its iconic oils, is switching gears and swapping textures with the launch of two all-new, non-oily, clinically proven scalp serums designed to treat hair fall and dandruff with precision, potency and a whole lot of heritage.

    The two launches, Indulekha Bringha Hair Growth Treatment Scalp Serum and Indulekha Svetakutaja Dandruff Treatment Scalp Serum mark the brand’s first foray into the serum space, a bold move that blends ancient Ayurvedic science with the ease and elegance of modern-day skincare formats.

    According to a 2024 independent clinical study, the Bringha Hair Growth Treatment Scalp Serum helps grow 11,000 new hairs in just three months. Packed with a 4.6 per cent Bringha+ complex featuring Brahmi, Amla, Aloe, Pudina and more, this serum tackles oxidative stress and thinning hair by nourishing the scalp at its roots using traditional Arka and Kashayam Vidhi techniques.

    Not to be outdone, the Svetakutaja Dandruff Treatment Scalp Serum is proven to tackle recurring dandruff within just two weeks, according to a 2023 clinical study. Its 1.7 per cent Svetakutaja+ complex includes Lemongrass, Orange, Pudhina and Neem all formulated to banish flakes, soothe itchiness, and restore scalp barrier health.

    “This isn’t just a format shift, it’s a mindset shift,” said Hindustan Unilever VP hair care Sairam Subramanian. “While Indulekha Oil continues to be a go-to for millions, serums offer a compelling new way for our consumers to experience everyday Ayurvedic efficacy without the mess.”

    Visually too, the brand is shaking things up. The new serums arrive in sleek, premium packaging, a sign that Indulekha’s moving confidently into its next chapter. Still rooted in Ayurvedic authenticity, the bottles are all business on the outside, and all botanicals on the inside.

    Available on Amazon, Myntra and Nykaa, Indulekha’s serums signal a fresh era in Ayurvedic haircare, one that’s lighter on texture, but heavy on results.

  • Shoumyan Biswas takes the global marketing wheel at Practo

    Shoumyan Biswas takes the global marketing wheel at Practo

    MUMBAI: Shoumyan Biswas, one of India’s most pedigreed marketing minds, has just hung his boots at Tata Digital and laced up for his next sprint—as the global chief marketing and strategy officer at Practo. The move puts him squarely in the driver’s seat of the healthtech player’s next growth phase.

    Biswas, known for launching Flipkart Plus, scaling Big Billion Days, and making loyalty glamorous  again, isn’t your average CMO. He’s also held P&L roles, built brands from scratch, and juggled strategy, product, and people mandates across unicorns and FMCG giants alike.

    From starting out at Pepsi to orchestrating multi-million dollar brand lifts at Hindustan Unilever, scaling kitchen empires at Rebel Foods, advising ICICI Lombard’s board, and leading loyalty and growth at Flipkart and Tata, the man’s résumé reads like a marketer’s bucket list.

    At Tata Digital, he wore three hats—CMO, business head, and chief of group loyalty. Now, at Practo, he’s sharpening his scalpel to carve out new-age healthcare narratives, with a dose of data and digital sorcery.
    With over two decades of shaping brands and boosting bottom lines, this boardroom giant is now gunning for a healthier, wealthier Practo.

     Watch this space—Biswas rarely misses a prescription for impact.

  • Spotify plays a new tune with product marketing promotion

    Spotify plays a new tune with product marketing promotion

    MUMBAI: After orchestrating marketing symphonies at Spotify India for nearly four years, Pulkit Mathur has scored a promotion to head of product and growth marketing at the streaming behemoth. The appointment, which took effect in February 2025, elevates Mathur from his previous role as marketing manager, where he had been spinning strategies since August 2021.

    Before joining the Swedish streaming service, Mathur spent over five years at Tata Sky Ltd, where he climbed the ranks from area sales manager to senior brand manager. His tenure at the satellite television provider saw him conducting successful campaigns that struck a chord with regional audiences.

    The marketing virtuoso also collaborated with Ogilvy to redefine Tata Sky’s brand purpose and worked with research teams to establish creative testing methods, including the use of neuroscience.

    Mathur’s earlier career movements included stints at Hero MotoCorp Ltd, where he served as assistant manager and graduate engineering trainee, as well as brief interludes at Unilever as a management intern and at the ColorssFoundation for community development work

  • McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    MUMBAI: Snehsikt Anand has been appointed business head at McCann Worldgroup, marking a return to agency life after a year of freelance consultancy. The seasoned marketing professional brings over 18 years of through-the-line marketing experience to one of advertising’s most established networks.

    Anand joins McCann after working as an independent marketing consultant, where he provided brand and communication advice to emerging agencies and production houses. Before his freelance period, he served as business head for west and HUL (rural) at Dentsu, where he managed Hindustan Unilever’s house-to-house business across India.

    At Dentsu, Anand’s client relationship skills helped create opportunities for business growth through territory expansion and cross-selling initiatives. Prior to joining Dentsu, Anand co-founded BrandBall, where as head of strategy he increased annual turnover fourfold and expanded the client roster tenfold over four years. 
    His experience includes positions at several prominent agencies including L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, Triton Communications, and Civilisation Communications. He also gained client-side experience as assistant manager-marketing at ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd.

    At McCann, Anand will likely apply his RoI-driven approach to marketing communications, leveraging his expertise in advertising, integrated marketing and team management as he takes on this new leadership role.

  • Blue Star hires ex-Unilever exec Mohit Sud to head unitary cooling division

    Blue Star hires ex-Unilever exec Mohit Sud to head unitary cooling division

    MUMBAI; Blue Star Limited has tapped Mohit Sud, a seasoned Hindustan Unilever executive, to lead its burgeoning air-conditioning empire as group president of unitary cooling products. 

    Sud, armed with a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, brings over two decades of soap-selling savvy to the cooling game. After cutting his teeth across India flogging everything from detergents to beauty potions, the former vice president will now build Blue Star’s market position.

    Sud will shoulder end-to-end responsibility for the company’s portfolio of room air conditioners, deep freezers, water coolers, visi coolers and modular cold rooms—essentially anything that keeps things nippy. His remit covers the full gamut: sales, marketing, service, R&D, manufacturing and supply chain.

    “The market for room air conditioners and commercial refrigeration products is poised for exponential growth in the coming years, and we aim to further buildon our leadership position and grow our market share,”   declared  Blue Star managing director B Thiagarajan. “Mohit’s rich experience in sales, distribution and marketing will be extremely valuable.’’

    “The Company has been on a growth path, and I am very optimistic about our prospects. To be future-ready, we have been making significant investments in R&D, manufacturing, digitalisation, sales and marketing. Simultaneously, we are strengthening our leadership team with external and internal talent. Mohit is an important addition to our team as wescale our consumer-facing businesses,” added chairman & managing director Vir S Advani.

  • Ad Standards take centre stage as India hosts Global Summit

    Ad Standards take centre stage as India hosts Global Summit

    MUMBAI: India is set to become the epicentre of global advertising conversations as the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) gears up to host the ICAS Global Summit ICAS Global Dialogues 2025 from 17 to 19 March 2025, in Mumbai. This marks a historic first, with the prestigious event being held outside Europe and the US, signalling India’s increasing influence in shaping global advertising self-regulation.

    The by-invite-only summit will convene self-regulatory leaders from 16 countries, alongside global advertising associations, regulators, and top Indian industry players. With AI and emerging technologies rapidly reshaping the industry, the summit aims to foster discussions on ethical, progressive, and consumer-first advertising practices.

    The summit will feature a series of thought-provoking sessions addressing key industry shifts. It will kick off with the ICAS Global Self-Regulation Awards (March 17), celebrating the most innovative and impactful advertising self-regulation initiatives worldwide. This will be followed by the ICAS Think Tank & Panel Discussion, where ASCI, alongside Hindustan Unilever, Marico, Cipla Health, and Kenvue, will shape the future of global advertising standards. On March 18, the session ‘Tomorrow’s Regulation Today’ will explore emerging consumer vulnerabilities and the evolving role of advertising regulations in tackling them. The final day, March 19, will see ASCI Academy’s Global Adda, unveiling two major research studies, ‘Manifest: Masculinities Beyond the Mask’, a deep dive into male representation in media, and ‘AdNext: The AI Edition’, which explores AI’s transformative impact on advertising.  

    With over 250 attendees expected, including industry leaders, regulators, and marketing professionals, the event promises insightful discussions, knowledge-sharing, and future-focused advertising strategies.

    ASCI CEO & secretary general Manisha Kapoor said, “Hosting the ICAS Global Summit in India is a proud milestone for ASCI and the Indian advertising industry. We look forward to collaborating with global experts and gaining insights that will help us navigate new complexities while strengthening consumer trust.”

    ASCI chairman Partha Sinha added, “The timing of this summit is crucial as AI and other technologies rapidly reshape advertising. Bringing global perspectives together will help us collectively design forward-looking approaches that balance innovation with responsibility.”

    The summit will host a star-studded lineup of speakers, bringing together influential voices from across industries. Key speakers include Abhishek Singh, additional secretary, MeitY; Devdutt Pattanaik, renowned mythologist and author; Michael Todd, global director at Google, and Guy Parker, president of ICAS. Adding to the distinguished roster are Mary K Engle, EVP-policy at BBB National Programs, USA; Mohan Jayaraman, partner at Bain & Company; Ruchira Jaitly, CMO of Diageo India and Paromita Vohra, acclaimed filmmaker and writer. Their collective expertise promises to drive meaningful discussions on the future of advertising and self-regulation.  

    Supported by Diageo India, Hindustan Unilever, Google, United Breweries, Makemytrip, Games24x7, Khaitan & Co., and Lexplosion, the ICAS Global Summit 2025 is poised to drive progressive, ethical, and future-ready advertising practices with India leading the charge.

  • ICC & Unilever partner to push women’s cricket

    ICC & Unilever partner to push women’s cricket

    MUMBAI: It’s got a lever into the International Cricket Council (ICC) – the apex body of the cricketing world. FMCG behemoth Unilever  has announced a  two-year partnership for two of its personal care brands, Rexona and Dove,  with the cricket body for women’s cricket that will run until the end of 2027. 

    The alliance was unveiled during a vibrant criiio cricket festival in Dubai on International Women’s Day, featuring 100 participating girls. This strategic collaboration brings together two influential organisations committed to accelerating the growth of women’s cricket globally.

    The partnership comes at a crucial time when women’s cricket is experiencing unprecedented growth. It will span several major tournaments, beginning with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and including Women’s T20 World Cups, U19 Women’s T20 World Cups, and the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027.

    ICC chairman  Jay Shah described the deal as “a pivotal moment for women’s cricket” that will “empower female cricketers, inspire future generations, and contribute significantly to the continued growth and success of women’s cricket globally.”

    ICC chief commercial officer  Anurag Dahiya highlighted the significance of pursuing partnerships specifically focused on the women’s game, noting that this deal “not only highlights the growing commercial appeal of women’s cricket but also underlines ICC’s position as one of the pioneers of the women’s sport movement.”
    Rexona, as the world’s leading deodorant brand with a mission to inspire movement and confidence, will implement various initiatives including a flag bearers programme and digital experiences during events. The brand will also support participation through women’s criiio festivals and leverage its expertise to collaborate on women’s hygiene education programmes.

    Hindustan Unilever CEO& MD Rohit Jawa  called the partnership “an exciting opportunity for Rexona to tap into a cultural moment, connect with new audiences, and importantly help drive women’s cricket further.”
    The deal was facilitated by Unilever International, the company’s global business unit focused on exploring new market opportunities.

  • Tuco Kids appoints former Curefit executive as co-founder

    Tuco Kids appoints former Curefit executive as co-founder

    MUMBAI: Children’s personal care brand Tuco Kids has appointed Chanakya Gupta as co-founder, bolstering its leadership following a £1.6 million seed funding round led by Fireside Ventures and Whiteboard Capital.

    Gupta joins from Curefit, where he served as business head of play and CHRO. His 23-year career includes senior roles at Flipkart, where he spearheaded strategic partnerships and launched initiatives including the D2C brand accelerator Flipkart Boost. He previously spent a decade at Hindustan Unilever, managing retail partnerships and soap brand development.

    Founded in 2023 by Aishvarya Murali, Tuco Kids produces natural personal care products for children aged 3-12, including soaps, lotions and deodorants. The company emphasises environmental responsibility, using reclaimed plastic for all packaging.

    The brand retails through major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart and Nykaa, alongside quick commerce channels. The recent funding round was led by Fireside Ventures and Whiteboard Capital.
    “His expertise in scaling consumer businesses will be invaluable as we expand our presence,”  said Murali of the appointment.

     

  • Ad wars 2024: Who ruled TV screens and who got washed away?

    Ad wars 2024: Who ruled TV screens and who got washed away?

    MUMBAI: Television advertising in 2024 wasn’t just background noise—it was prime-time gold, stealing the spotlight from even the most dramatic soap operas. According to TAM AdEx – 2024 Television Advertising Recap, TV ad volumes surged 14 per cent compared to 2020, proving that the battle for consumer eyeballs is still raging.

    Globally, television ad spending is expected to touch $177 billion, with India alone seeing a nine per cent rise in TV ad expenditures compared to 2023. The second quarter alone saw a six per cent growth over the first, while the fourth quarter took a six per cent dip—probably because people were too busy binge-watching holiday specials to pay attention to ads.

    But who poured in the most cash? Which industries turned up the volume? And which brands refused to be skipped? Buckle up—this one’s a wild ride through the world of TV ads.

    Who was buying all that airtime?

    If you turned on your TV in 2024, you were likely bombarded with ads from the food & beverages sector, which took a massive 21 per cent share of ad volumes, proving that snack cravings and screen time go hand in hand. Not far behind, personal care/personal hygiene lathered up with 16 per cent. The household products sector scrubbed in at 9 per cent, because apparently, nothing pairs better with your TV drama than a cleaner floor.

    But who ruled the ad wars? Hindustan Unilever dominated with 16 per cent of all ad volumes, closely followed by Reckitt Benckiser (India), which boasted five out of the top ten most advertised brands. If you feel like every other commercial was selling you a soap or detergent, you weren’t wrong.

    If you thought soap operas were dramatic, the real drama happened in the soap advertising department. Toilet Soaps dominated the charts yet again, refusing to be flushed away. Laundry detergents, toothpastes, and floor cleaners scrubbed into the top 10, proving that cleanliness is next to advertising greatness.

    Quarterly showdowns

    2024 was a tale of peaks and dips. The second quarter flexed its muscles, rising by six per cent over Q1, only for Q4 to slump by six per cent compared to Q3. Maybe by year’s end, consumers had perfected the art of muting commercials.

    Despite the dips, 92 per cent of all TV ad volumes came from just five channel genres—dominated, unsurprisingly, by general entertainment channels (GECs) and news. If nothing else, advertisers know exactly where the eyeballs are.

    Which brands stole the spotlight? The award for most persistent ad on TV goes to Harpic Power Plus 10x Advanced, which climbed over 60 spots to claim the top brand of the year. It was followed closely by Dettol Toilet Soaps, Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, and Jiocinema App. Because what’s better than watching ads? Watching ads about an app that shows more ads!

    Surprisingly, digital brands also made a larger impact, with e-commerce and fintech stepping up their ad spends. The TV ad game isn’t just about FMCG anymore; the tech world wants a piece of your screen time too.

    Co-branding went bonkers. Indian cinema blockbusters and brands continued their love affair in 2024, with Pushpa 2 leading the charge, accounting for 21 per cent of co-branded ads. The film with the most brands fighting for screen time? Fighter, which partnered with a record 13 brands—making sure even if the movie didn’t knock out box-office records, it definitely conquered ad slots.

    Who surprised us?

    While the usual suspects stayed strong, some underdogs made surprising leaps. Paints saw a 51 per cent increase in ad secondages, because who doesn’t love a fresh coat of paint before their favourite reality show? Travel and tourism ads doubled, surging by 100 per cent, as people started daydreaming about vacations rather than just watching them on TV. But the real showstopper? Beauty accessories/products grew a jaw-dropping 303 times, proving that looking good isn’t just for movie stars anymore.

    And the exclusive advertisers? Over 4,010+ new advertisers joined the television ad game in 2024. Leading the pack was Velnik India, proving that fresh faces aren’t just for reality TV anymore. From fintech to online shopping platforms, new players saw TV as the ultimate stage to make their mark.

    If you thought TV ads were taking a back seat, think again—because brands are still duking it out for your attention like it’s prime-time gladiator combat. As long as there are eyeballs to mesmerise and remotes to misplace, ad makers will be there, squeezing their pitches between your favourite shows. Industry experts predict that 2025 will bring even smarter AI-driven ad placements, hyper-personalised content, and interactive ads that might just talk back if you ignore them.

    So, buckle up for more soaps (literally and figuratively), more snacks (because snack ads are never going away), and an avalanche of co-branded spectacles. If 2024 was a preview, 2025 is shaping up to be the full-length feature film of advertising dominance.

  • Q3 FY 2025: Hindustan Unilever Ltd & the art of growing steadily

    Q3 FY 2025: Hindustan Unilever Ltd & the art of growing steadily

    MUMBAI:  India’s leading FMCG company Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has reported steady financial results for the third quarter (Q3) and the nine-month period ended 31 December 2024. With a strategic focus on premiumisation, innovation, and cost optimisation, HUL demonstrated resilience amidst market challenges and rising input costs.

    Q3 2025 ended 31 December 2024, saw HUL record a total income of Rs 16,050 crore, a 1.7 per cent  increase from Rs 15,781 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. Its revenue from operations stood at Rs 15,559 crore, driven by solid performances in  the home care and food categories. Profit before exceptional items and tax remained steady at Rs 3,474 crore even as net profit rose 2.1 per cent to Rs 2,989 crore as against Rs 2,925 crore in Q3 2024. 

    Operating expenses were well-managed at Rs 12,576 crore, indicating efficient cost control. Home care vertical was a stellar performer with revenue climbing Rs 5,739 crore, with segment profit at Rs 1,086 crore, underscoring its role as a key growth driver. The beauty and well being vertical also saw revenues swelling to Rs Rs 3,556 crore, although profits declined slightly to Rs 1,018 crore due to higher input costs. And the food segment was a steady performer awith revenue at Rs 3,745 crore and proft as Rs 755 crore. 
    Ice-cream business
    On a nine month basis, HUL’s total income reached Rs 48,159 crore, up 1.9 per cent  from Rs 47,266 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 46,759 crore, showcasing steady consumer demand. Profit before tax grew to Rs 11,053 crore, while net profit increased by 6.1 per cent  to Rs 8,196 crore. The home care category recorded a nine month revenue of Rs 17,143 crore, supported by premiumisation and product innovation. The beauty & well being vertical generated Rs 10,258 crore, benefiting from a focus on personal care products while the foods tranche delivered consistent revenue of Rs 11,398 crore, reflecting effective competitive pricing strategies. 

    During the quarter, HUL split its beauty & personal care division into two new segments—beauty & wellbeing and personal care—to enhance strategic focus and operational efficiency. Prudent management of raw material costs and advertising expenditure helped mitigate the impact of rising input costs and currency fluctuations.  A continued shift towards premium product offerings in home care and beauty & wellbeing bolstered overall performance. 

    Additionally, it got clearance from its board  (based on the recommendation of the independent and audit committees) to dissect the ice-cream business from HUL and fuse it with its wholly owned subsidiary Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd. Following this, Kwality Walls will issue shares to all the HUL shareholders in a 1:1 ratio.. The ice-cream business had a turnover of Rs 1,595 crore in the year ended 31 March, 2024, that is 2.7 per cent of HUL’s turnover, and it has some great brands in Cornetto, Magnum and Kwality Walls. The demerger creates a leading ice-cream company listed on the stock exchange which will be given wings to fly with a separate managed allowed to focus on its growth. 

    The demerger followed a decision by Hindustan Unilever’s parent company in the UK to carve out its ice-cream business into a separate company. The rationale behind this separation was that in ice-cream has a different operating model, including differentiated infrastructure for supply and distribution, capital allocation needs, distinct channel landscape and go- to-market strategy. minimalist

    HUL also announced that it has agreed to acquire  90.5 per cent of the Rs 500 crore turnover  Uprising Science Pvt Ltd – which is behind the Minimalist hair care and skin care products range.  The HUL board agreed to a price tag of Rs 2,670 crore at a pre-money enterprise valuation of Rs  2,955 crore (and a primary infusion of Rs  45 crore) for the acquisition of the shares from  the sellers which include co-founders Mohit Kumar Yadav and . Rahul Yadav,  Peak XV Partners Venture Investments VII, Surge Ventures II, and Twenty Nine Capital Partners (General Partner). The transaction is expected to be completed in Q1 of FY 2026. Following that, HUL will acquire the remaining 9.5 per cent of Uprising’s  equity within two years.

    Minimalist will join the portfolio of brands in HUL’s  beauty & wellbeing division led by executive director Harman Dhillon. The current Minimalist team led by Mohit and Rahul will continue to operate the business in collaboration with HUL.