Hindustan Unilever

Hindustan Unilever Limited
Company typePublic
ISININE030A01027
IndustryFast-moving consumer goods
PredecessorIndian Vanaspati Manufacturing Company (1931–1956)
Lever Brothers India Limited (1933–1956)
United Traders Limited (1935–1956)
Hindustan Lever Limited (1956–2007)
Founded1933; 91 years ago (1933)
Headquarters
Mumbai, Maharashtra
,
India
Key people
Rohit Jawa (CEO)[1]
Products
RevenueIncrease ₹62,707 crore (US$7.5 billion) (2024)[2]
Increase ₹13,924 crore (US$1.7 billion) (2024)[2]
Increase ₹10,282 crore (US$1.2 billion) (2024)[2]
Total assetsIncrease ₹78,499 crore (US$9.4 billion) (2024)[2]
Total equityIncrease ₹51,423 crore (US$6.2 billion) (2024)[2]
Number of employees
27,764 (2024)(including 19,109 workers) [2]
ParentUnilever plc (61.90%)
Websitewww.hul.co.in

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is an Indian fast-moving consumer 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 and other consumer staples.

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.[5]

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.[3]

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]

  1. ^ "The Board of HUL". hul.co.in. HUL. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Hindustan Unilever Annual Reports" (PDF). hul.co.in.
  3. ^ a b "Introduction to HUL". HUL. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  4. ^ Srinivasan, Lalitha (31 July 2007). "Transition to new name was smooth: HUL". Mumbai: The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Hindustan Unilever faces flak over Red Label ad showing son 'abandoning' father at Kumbh Mela". cnbctv18.com. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  6. ^ "#BoycottHindustanUnilever Trends After Ad On Kumbh Mela Faces Criticism". NDTV.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  7. ^ "GSK Consumer Healthcare to merge with Hindustan Unilever: Here are 10 things you should know". www.businesstoday.in. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b "HUL-GSK deal: 3,800 employees face uncertainty, decision awaited". www.businesstoday.in. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  9. ^ "HUL expects to complete merger with GSK Consumer Healthcare in 2019". Medical Dialogues. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Top 100 stocks by Market Capitalization | BSE Listed stocks Market Capitalization". www.bseindia.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.