10.18.11
3. Unilever
United Kingdom
www.unilever.com
Beauty Sales:
$18.2 billion (Personal Care)
Corporate Sales:
$58.7 billion
Key Personnel:
Michael Treschow, chairman; Jeroen van der Veer, vice-chairman and senior independent director; Paul Polman, chief executive officer; Jean-Marc Huët, chief financial officer, Dave Lewis, president personal care; Harish Manwani chief operating officer of global markets.
Major Products/Brands:
Sales of skin care and hair care products, deodorants and antiperspirants, and oral care products from brands including Axe/Lynx, Dove, Lux, Rexona, Sunsilk, Clear, Suave, Pond’s, Lifebuoy, Brylcreem, VO5.
New Products:
Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Clinical Protection Antiperspirant/Deodorant, Dove Nutrium Moisture, Dove Damage Therapy, Rexona Clinical, Axe Touch, Axe Africa, Axe Hold + Touch Normal Hair Spiking Glue, Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Magnum Gold.
Comments:
With competition stronger than ever, Unilever focused the year on giving Procter & Gamble a run for its money as the UK-based multinational expanded, divested and acquired, in efforts similar to those of other leading Top 20 firms aiming to add a billion or two global consumers over the coming years. Helped in part by cost savings measures and world currency rates, Unilever experienced a sales growth of 4.1% over the previous year—which corporate chairman Michael Treschow reported was its best volume growth in more than 30 years. Volume share grew in all regions and most categories, with double-digit growth in Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe. About 61% of turnover occurred in emerging markets.
Unilever’s push toward R&D and innovation paid off, resulting in more than 100 launches into new markets. Unilever claimed global leadership in deodorants and mass skin care, and second position in daily hair care.
Sales in the personal care division grew 7.9% to $18.2 billion.
By category, growth was strongest in deodorants, led by the launch of Dove Men+Care, Rexona Clinical, and the ongoing popularity of the Axe brand. Global market share continued to grow despite high levels of competition. Skin care also showed success, especially in cleansing, where Dove Nutrium moisture performed well and several new Lifebuoy launches hit the shelves.
The hair care category also strengthened during 2010 with healthy volume growth and improved market share in the U.S., China and India. Innovation and new market launches led the way, with the successful release of Dove Damage Therapy, the expansion of the Clear brand into Latin America and a series of new products under the TiGi brand. The White Now range has proved successful across more than 30 markets, and launches of anti-age products in Western Europe have also proved successful.
Acquisition activity in 2010 was concentrated in Personal Care. In September, Unilever announced an agreement to acquire the Alberto Culver hair and skin care business. In December, the company announced the acquisition of the personal care business of Sara Lee. Alberto Culver added a significant collection of hair and skin care products, with brands such as TRESemmé, Nexxus and St. Ives.
Skin care for men made great strides with the hugely successful match to Unilever’s largest personal care brand for women. The Dove men’s line debuted in more than 30 countries, and rang up more than $150 million in sales. The Dove Men+Care ad campaign tied the U.S. launch to the Super Bowl.
In India, Dove quadrupled its turnover between 2007 and 2010, becoming the leading personal care brand across skin cleansing, skin care, hair and deodorants in just three years.
In Thailand, according to Euromonitor International, Unilever Thai Holdings Ltd. launched a new range of hair treatments in five variants under its Sunsilk brand last year. This range included bundled products containing shampoo, conditioner and hair care treatments together as another method of increasing volume sales at a price attractive to consumers.
Unilever revealed an ambitious Sustainable Living Plan, and Polman announced plans to help over 1 billion people take action to improve their health and wellbeing, mostly in developing countries, over the next 10 years.
In first-half 2011, Unilever continued on a positive trend. Turnover for the half-year was up 4.1% to $32.8 billion.
Personal Care delivered underlying sales growth in the first-half of 5.5%.
In June, Unilever announced a number of management changes, meant to accelerate growth in emerging markets such as Asia, Africa, South America and Central Europe over the next decade.
Unilever’s top tier reorganization followed the departure of Michael Polk, president of global foods, home and personal care, who left the company to become chief executive of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
Among the executive moves, Harish Manwani was named to a new role as chief operating officer of global markets. Dave Lewis transitioned from president of the Americas to president of personal care.
In September, Unilever agreed to sell the Alberto VO5 brand in the U.S. and Puerto Rico from the Alberto Culver portfolio and the Rave brand globally from the Unilever portfolio to private equity firm Brynwood Partners VI L.P.
The Unilever brand logo is now displayed on all of the consumer goods giant’s products, and increasingly displayed in its advertising, to increase exposure.
United Kingdom
www.unilever.com
Beauty Sales:
$18.2 billion (Personal Care)
Corporate Sales:
$58.7 billion
Dave Lewis, president personalcare,Unilever |
Michael Treschow, chairman; Jeroen van der Veer, vice-chairman and senior independent director; Paul Polman, chief executive officer; Jean-Marc Huët, chief financial officer, Dave Lewis, president personal care; Harish Manwani chief operating officer of global markets.
Major Products/Brands:
Sales of skin care and hair care products, deodorants and antiperspirants, and oral care products from brands including Axe/Lynx, Dove, Lux, Rexona, Sunsilk, Clear, Suave, Pond’s, Lifebuoy, Brylcreem, VO5.
New Products:
Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Clinical Protection Antiperspirant/Deodorant, Dove Nutrium Moisture, Dove Damage Therapy, Rexona Clinical, Axe Touch, Axe Africa, Axe Hold + Touch Normal Hair Spiking Glue, Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, Magnum Gold.
Comments:
With competition stronger than ever, Unilever focused the year on giving Procter & Gamble a run for its money as the UK-based multinational expanded, divested and acquired, in efforts similar to those of other leading Top 20 firms aiming to add a billion or two global consumers over the coming years. Helped in part by cost savings measures and world currency rates, Unilever experienced a sales growth of 4.1% over the previous year—which corporate chairman Michael Treschow reported was its best volume growth in more than 30 years. Volume share grew in all regions and most categories, with double-digit growth in Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe. About 61% of turnover occurred in emerging markets.
Axe remains one of Unilever’s top-selling brands. |
Sales in the personal care division grew 7.9% to $18.2 billion.
By category, growth was strongest in deodorants, led by the launch of Dove Men+Care, Rexona Clinical, and the ongoing popularity of the Axe brand. Global market share continued to grow despite high levels of competition. Skin care also showed success, especially in cleansing, where Dove Nutrium moisture performed well and several new Lifebuoy launches hit the shelves.
The hair care category also strengthened during 2010 with healthy volume growth and improved market share in the U.S., China and India. Innovation and new market launches led the way, with the successful release of Dove Damage Therapy, the expansion of the Clear brand into Latin America and a series of new products under the TiGi brand. The White Now range has proved successful across more than 30 markets, and launches of anti-age products in Western Europe have also proved successful.
Acquisition activity in 2010 was concentrated in Personal Care. In September, Unilever announced an agreement to acquire the Alberto Culver hair and skin care business. In December, the company announced the acquisition of the personal care business of Sara Lee. Alberto Culver added a significant collection of hair and skin care products, with brands such as TRESemmé, Nexxus and St. Ives.
Skin care for men made great strides with the hugely successful match to Unilever’s largest personal care brand for women. The Dove men’s line debuted in more than 30 countries, and rang up more than $150 million in sales. The Dove Men+Care ad campaign tied the U.S. launch to the Super Bowl.
In India, Dove quadrupled its turnover between 2007 and 2010, becoming the leading personal care brand across skin cleansing, skin care, hair and deodorants in just three years.
Dove Men+Care led Unilever’s strong antiperspirant/deodorant sales. |
Unilever revealed an ambitious Sustainable Living Plan, and Polman announced plans to help over 1 billion people take action to improve their health and wellbeing, mostly in developing countries, over the next 10 years.
In first-half 2011, Unilever continued on a positive trend. Turnover for the half-year was up 4.1% to $32.8 billion.
Personal Care delivered underlying sales growth in the first-half of 5.5%.
In June, Unilever announced a number of management changes, meant to accelerate growth in emerging markets such as Asia, Africa, South America and Central Europe over the next decade.
Unilever’s top tier reorganization followed the departure of Michael Polk, president of global foods, home and personal care, who left the company to become chief executive of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
Among the executive moves, Harish Manwani was named to a new role as chief operating officer of global markets. Dave Lewis transitioned from president of the Americas to president of personal care.
In September, Unilever agreed to sell the Alberto VO5 brand in the U.S. and Puerto Rico from the Alberto Culver portfolio and the Rave brand globally from the Unilever portfolio to private equity firm Brynwood Partners VI L.P.
The Unilever brand logo is now displayed on all of the consumer goods giant’s products, and increasingly displayed in its advertising, to increase exposure.