Hindustan Unilever Limited : Company Biography

Company Overview

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is an Indian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company and part of the Unilever group. The company has a presence in India spanning more than 90 years. HUL's business covers consumer products across home care, beauty and personal care, and foods and refreshments. Its corporate headquarters are at Unilever House, B. D. Sawant Marg, Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai, Maharashtra. HUL is listed on the BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited.

The company's current business is organised around three principal divisions: Home Care, Beauty & Personal Care, and Foods & Refreshment. In FY2024-25, these businesses reported revenues of approximately ₹21,900 crore, ₹22,165 crore and ₹15,292 crore respectively.

Products and Business Model

HUL manufactures, markets and distributes consumer products for household and personal use. Its portfolio spans categories including fabric care, household care, home hygiene, skin cleansing, skincare, hair care, colour cosmetics, oral care, deodorants, tea, coffee, ice cream and frozen desserts, foods, and health food drinks.

The company's business model combines brand development, research and innovation, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing and distribution. HUL sells through traditional trade, organised retail, e-commerce and quick-commerce channels. Its FY2024-25 disclosures reported 27 owned manufacturing sites, more than 50 collaborative manufacturing sites, 32 distribution hubs and more than 9 million retail outlets reached in India.

Its customers include individual consumers and households, while its distribution network also serves retailers, distributors, organised-trade businesses and digital commerce platforms. The company reports that nine out of ten Indian households use one or more HUL brands.

Major Business Segments and Brands

Home Care includes products in fabric wash, household care and related categories. Brands associated with the company's portfolio include Surf excel, Rin, Wheel, Vim and Domex.

Beauty & Personal Care covers skin cleansing, skincare, hair care, oral care, colour cosmetics and deodorants. Its brands include Lux, Lifebuoy, Dove, Pond's, Vaseline, Sunsilk, Clinic Plus, Lakmé, Pepsodent and Closeup.

Foods & Refreshment includes beverages, foods, ice cream and frozen desserts and health food drinks. The company's portfolio includes Brooke Bond, BRU, Kissan, Knorr, Kwality Wall's, Horlicks and Boost, among others. The brands cited above are identified in HUL's official corporate and annual-report materials.

Geographic Presence

HUL has a pan-India presence, serving all Indian states and Union Territories. Its FY2024-25 Integrated Annual Report records operations in 28 states and 8 Union Territories and identifies an international presence in 61 countries through the company's business and subsidiaries. Its Indian distribution network reaches both rural and urban markets.

HUL's supply chain includes owned manufacturing facilities and collaborative manufacturing arrangements. The company also operates through subsidiaries and other entities disclosed in its consolidated financial statements.

Purpose, Values and Principles

HUL's officially stated purpose is “to make sustainable living commonplace.” The company links this purpose to its approach to sustainable business and its wider environmental and social commitments.

HUL identifies four core values in its governance framework: Integrity, Respect, Responsibility and Pioneering. These values are incorporated into its Code of Business Principles, which establishes behavioural and ethical standards for employees and other relevant stakeholders.

The company's current strategic framework, ASPIRE, focuses on demand generation, brand superiority, market development, future channels and differentiated approaches to Indian markets. Its sustainability priorities include climate, nature, plastics and livelihoods.

Achievements, Certifications and Recognition

HUL's official disclosures document several recent recognitions. In FY2024-25, the company received the ESG Excellence Award in Consumer Markets by KPMG India, Top Supply Chain Champion at the ISCM Awards, the CII Grand Jury Award for Industry-Academia Partnership, and recognition as Best Organisation for Women by ET Now.

The company's official FY2025-26 performance information also records certifications and recognitions including LEED Platinum certification for its head office, LEED Gold certification for its Sumerpur factory, and recognition in the CII Innovations Awards.