Unilever is betting bigger on India, with chief executive Fernando Fernandez declaring that “the next decade is the decade of India” as the consumer goods giant pledged continued investments to strengthen its leadership in one of its fastest-growing markets.
“We believe that the next decade is the decade of India,” Fernandez told investors following the company’s latest earnings, describing the country as a critical driver of Unilever’s future growth story.
The maker of Dove soap and Lifebuoy said it will continue investing in Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), its listed Indian subsidiary, to protect and expand its market leadership amid intensifying competition in the FMCG sector.
Unilever’s optimism comes as HUL continues to outperform the global business across several key metrics.
Chief Financial Officer Srinivas Phatak said HUL is expected to deliver high single-digit revenue growth in the coming quarters, with profit growth likely to outpace revenue growth.
During the first quarter of FY27, HUL reported 5% volume growth and 10% value growth, making it one of the strongest-performing businesses within the Unilever portfolio.
India also emerged as the company’s leading performer in the Home Care and Personal Care business globally.
“India, which is our second-largest market, has accelerated strongly,” Fernandez said, adding that the company achieved record market share in both laundry and hair care—its two largest categories in the country.
The comments reinforce India’s growing strategic importance for the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods major at a time when demand in several developed markets remains subdued. As Unilever reshapes its global portfolio and sharpens its focus on faster-growing markets, India is increasingly being positioned as one of its most important long-term growth engines.
Follow Storyboard18 on Google for the latest and breaking brand marketing and industry updates, along with in-depth coverage of digital news. Stay informed with the latest perspectives only on Storyboard18.
Tags
First Published onJuly 29, 2026, 08:54:38 IST
SPOTLIGHT
Special CoverageStoryboard18 crosses 1 million monthly active users, marking a new milestone in its growth journeyRead More
SEE ALL
SAC 2026: Swiggy, Nestlé, HDFC, Flipkart, Puma, Lahori Zeera shine | Why Piyush Pandey remains India’s creative North Star
Storyboard18 brings you top five news updates from the world of advertising, marketing, and business of brands.
