Brands
HUL to drive competitiveness of its brands
KOLKATA: Consumer goods major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) is looking at strengthening the core of its business and drive competitiveness of its brands in the market.
“We continue to strengthen the core of our business and drive the competitiveness of our brands in the market. At the same time, we are leading market development in relatively nascent categories such as packaged foods and premium personal care with strong results,” said HUL chairman Harish Manwani.
Talking about the packaged food segment, Kolkata-based Microsec Research said, “It was the fifth successive quarter of double digit growth in packaged foods segment, led by Kissan and Kwality Walls.”
On brand investments, Manwani added: “Brand investments were sustained at competitive levels across all segments even as competitive intensity stepped up in the commodity linked categories.”
It should be noted that from food and beverages to personal care, HUL’s brands are part of everyday life. “Our brands play a major part in helping us achieve our sustainable living aims of helping more than a billion people improve their health and well-being; halving the environmental footprint of our products and sourcing 100 per cent of our agricultural raw materials sustainably. Given the fast changing external environment, we are managing our business dynamically for sustained volume led growth and margin improvement,” the company said.
From last two quarters, input costs were benign with a fall in crude oil prices and this has started to reflect in the lower cost of goods sold, the company further said.
To pass on the benefits of reduced inputs costs, the FMCG major has reduced the prices of soaps and detergents, which accounted for around 50 per cent of its revenues in the last quarter.
When a city based analyst was called, he said in the current quarter one can expect price cut in skin cleansing products and tea and other verticals, which did not see any price correction.
Since price cuts are expected to take place in premium brands as well apart from mass brands, as the company hinted, HUL is aiming see consumers upgrading themselves, the analyst said.
As per Microsec Research, Pureit delivered another good quarter of double digit growth led by the premium segment.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
