MAM
HUL ramps up ad spends in second Covid2019 quarter
BENGALURU: FMCG major and the largest player in terms of advertising and marketing spends, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) upped its advertising spends by 43 per cent during the second Covid2019 quarter – (Q2 2021, the quarter ended 30 September 2020, quarter or period under review) as compared to the immediate trailing quarter Q1 2021. The company had pared quarter over quarter (q-o-q) and year-on-year (y-o-y) advertisement expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 (Q1 2021, quarter ended 30 June 2020) during which the Covid2019 lockdown was in place by over 30 per cent to Rs 800 crore from Rs 1,175 crore (down 31.9 per cent) in Q4 2020 and Rs 1,167 crore (down 31.4 per cent) in Q2 2020 respectively. For the period under review, HUL spent Rs 1,144 crore towards advertisement expenses as compared to Rs 1,200 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. All numbers in this report are consolidated numbers unless stated otherwise.
The company reported 15.2 percent y-o-y and 8.2 percent q-o-q increase in total revenue at Rs 11,776 crore as compared to Rs 10,223 crore in Q2 2020 and Rs 10,885 crore in Q1 2021 respectively. However, in terms of percentage of total income (operating revenue plus other income), HUL’s ad spends during fiscal 2021 were down when compared to previous periods. The FMCG major’s ad spends in Q2 2021 of Rs 1,144 crore were 9.7 percent of operating revenue of 11,776 crore. Please refer to the figure below:
For the half year ended 30 September 2020 (H1 2021) the company had spent Rs 1,944 crore (8.6 percent of total revenue), which was 17.9 per cent lower than the Rs 2,367 crore (11.4 per cent of total revenue) during the corresponding year ago quarter. For FY 2020 and FY 2019, HUL had spent Rs 4,688 crore (11.9 per cent of total revenue) and Rs 4,552 crore (11.7 per cent of total revenue) respectively.
The company reports numbers for four segments, the largest of which in terms of revenue is the beauty segment, followed by the home, foods & refreshments, and ‘Others’.
The company has reported y-o-y revenue growth for the four segments. In an earnings press release, HUL said that growth in Q2 2021 was competitive and profitable with reported turnover growth of 16 per cent and domestic consumer growth (excluding the impact of merger of GSK CH and acquisition of ‘VWash’) of 3 per cent. The FMCG player avers that the strength of its portfolio is demonstrated by the fact that 70 per cent of its business was gaining penetration and that health, hygiene and nutrition products, which formed cumulatively 80 per cent of its portfolio, grew in double digits.
Company Speak:
HUL chairman and managing director Sanjiv Mehta said: “In the context of a challenging economicenvironment, our growth has been competitive and profitable. We continue to demonstrate execution prowess,agility, adaptability, resilience, and passion of our people. We have expanded our portfolio with consumerrelevant innovations and have invested strongly behind our brands. Our operations and service levels are now back to pre-COVID levels and we have accelerated the pace of digitizing our operations under the ‘Re-imagine HUL’ agenda. The economic outlook has improved given the various initiatives taken by the Government and Reserve Bank ofIndia. In our sector, rural markets have been resilient but the demand in urban India especially in metropolitancities has been muted. We believe that the worst is behind us and we are cautiously optimistic on demand recovery.”
Segment Results
Excerpts from the HUL Q2 2021 earnings release
Home Care:
Household Care delivered strong performance across all segments led by continued penetrationgains. We have stepped up our innovation intensity to address the ‘clean living’ needs of consumers; ‘Domex’ range is now available nationally. In Fabric Wash, we have reduced our prices to pass on benefits of lowercommodity costs to consumers. Category consumption of Laundry has been adversely impacted due to confinedliving. Continued focus on driving market development has enabled us to grow our Liquids and Fabric Sensationsegments strongly.
Beauty & Personal Care:
Skin Cleansing grew in double digits on back of a very strong performance in ‘Lifebuoy’and a good delivery in ‘Lux’. Hand Sanitizers and Handwash segments continue to gain penetration and havedelivered robust growths. Oral care grew in double digits with accelerated momentum in ‘Close Up’. Hair Care alsogrew in double digits; our portfolio interventions along with repurposed communications are resonating well withconsumers and driving salience. In Skin Care, ‘Glow & Lovely’ and ‘Glow & Handsome’ have successfully landed onshelves across the nation and we continue the journey towards a more inclusive vision of beauty. While theessential part of Skin Care saw pickup in demand, ‘winter portfolio sell-in’ was impacted due to muted tradesentiment and liquidity constraints.
Foods & Refreshment:
Foods, Tea and Coffee sustained the high growth momentum and grew in double digits; ourconsumer-focused activations and innovations are leveraging the ‘in-home consumption’ trend. Our prudent anddynamic management of unprecedented inflation in Tea has enabled all our brands to grow in double digits andthis positions us well. Performance of our Nutrition business was competitive and disrupted supply lines are nowfully restored. In the quarter, we expanded ‘Boost’ nationally with the narrative of ‘Play a bigger game’ andlaunched a special film on ‘Horlicks’ to celebrate the deeper meaning of growth that stems from courage andconfidence. While we saw sequential improvement, Ice Creams, Foods Solutions and Vending businesses continueto be impacted due to out-of-home consumption loss.
MAM
SBI General Insurance launches an integrated brand campaign with Pankaj Tripathi as its Brand Ambassador
Mumbai: SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading general insurance companies, has announced acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi as its Brand Ambassador and unveiled an integrated brand campaign ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’. The association unites a personality known for credibility and authenticity with a brand rooted in trust and transparency. Pankaj Tripathi’s grounded persona makes him a natural embodiment of the brand’s core promise – “Trust” that feels personal and reassuring.
The brand has launched a new health insurance film as part of its ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ campaign, highlighting its promise of being a trusted partner in safeguarding families. The campaign is rooted in the belief that true assurance is built through quiet, everyday acts of care, the small, consistent gestures that reflect responsibility, protection and unwavering support.
Featuring Pankaj Tripathi, the film presents him as a quiet pillar of strength within his family who is deeply attuned to their needs and expressing care through thoughtful, everyday actions. His presence reflects responsibility, empathy and steadfast commitment, qualities that strongly resonate with Indian households. The narrative mirrors SBI General Insurance’s role as a constant source of protection, standing by families with confidence and care when it matters most. The film has been conceptualized and executed by TBWA Lintas.
This philosophy is increasingly relevant in today’s healthcare landscape. In an increasingly uncertain environment, rising medical costs and growing health awareness have made comprehensive health insurance a vital pillar of financial planning. SBI General Insurance is focused on making the category more meaningful, by integrating product innovation, technology, and offering transparent claim settlements.
Speaking on the collaboration,Mr. Naveen Chandra Jha, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance, said, “India is witnessing a clear shift in how families approach healthcare and financial security. With rising medical costs and increasing health awareness, comprehensive health insurance has become essential rather than optional. Through the ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ campaign and our partnership with Pankaj Tripathi, we aim to raise awareness about the need for proactive health protection while reinforcing our commitment to making insurance simple, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of Indian households.”
Mr. Pankaj Tripathi, Brand Ambassador, SBI General Insurance, said, “I am thrilled to be associated with SBI General Insurance, one of the strongest brands in the General Insurance industry as their brand ambassador. What truly moves me is the brand’s unwavering commitment to providing protection and the trust that it has among the customers. What touched me to the core is the campaign’s heartfelt narrative, ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ – a promise that radiates warmth, deep responsibility, and an unbreakable sense of family and belonging. Through this film, the brand is igniting nationwide awareness about the critical necessity of health insurance, ensuring families across India are protected when it matters most.”
Mr. Rathin Lahiri, Head – Marketing & CSR, SBI General Insurance, further added, “We are delighted to welcome Pankaj Tripathi as our Brand Ambassador and to be the face of our new brand film. The film celebrates the quiet heroism of the common man, who does everything to improve the quality of life for his family as does SBI General Insurance to provide protection via Health Insurance.”
The comprehensive integrated campaign will be amplified across Print, TV, OOH, OTT platforms, and social media platforms. Leveraging compelling storytelling, and sustained engagement initiatives, the Company aims to take the campaign “Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa” to audiences across the country. This integrated approach is designed to strengthen brand recall, deepen emotional connect, and reinforce SBI General Insurance’s position as a dependable partner in financial protection.
View the film –
SBI General Insurance, one of the fastest-growing private general insurance firms, backed by the robust support of SBI, upholds a legacy of trust and security. We position ourselves as India’s most trusted general insurer amidst a dynamic landscape. Since our establishment in 2009, our expansion has been substantial, growing from 17 branches in 2011 to a nationwide presence in 146 branches. In FY 2024-25, SBI General Insurance reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of INR 14,140 crores, recording a YOY growth of 11.1%.
The company received numerous prestigious accolades, showcasing its excellence across various domains. Key honors include being named as the Domestic General Insurer of the Year – India and Claims Initiative of the Year – India at Insurance Asia Awards 2025 Singapore, Large General Insurance category at the Mint BFSI Summit & Awards, the 3rd InsureNext Awards 2024 for Best Claims Settlement, and India’s Best General Insurer of the Year at the 7th Insurance Conclave Awards. At the India Insurance Summit & Awards 2024, the company secured titles for General Insurance Company of the Year and Leading Implementer of Analytics Technology in Insurance. Additionally, it was honored as the Best BFSI Brand at the ET NOW Best BFSI Brands Conclave 2024 and included in BW BusinessWorld’s India’s Most Respected Companies. Certified as a Great Place to Work in 2024, the company also excelled at the ETBFSI Exceller Awards 2024 with recognition for Best Claims Management in Insurance and Best CSR Campaign of the Year, further highlighting its commitment to social responsibility and innovation.
With a team of over 9,000+ employees and our multi-distribution model covering Bancassurance, Agency, OEM, Broking, Retail Direct Channels, and Digital collaborations, we are committed to providing both Suraksha and Bharosa to all our consumers. Leveraging a vast network that includes over 22000+ SBI branches, plus agents, financial alliances, OEMs, and digital partners, we extend our services to even the most remote areas of India. Our offerings cater to Retail, Corporate, SME and Rural segments, and our diverse product portfolio ensures accessibility through both digital and physical channels.
