INTRODUCTION TO HUL
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer
Goods Company with a heritage of over 80 years in India and touches the
lives of two out of three Indians.
HUL works to create a better future every day and helps people feel good, look
good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and
good for others.
With over 35 brands spanning 20 distinct categories such as soaps, detergents,
shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, tea, coffee, packaged
foods, ice cream, and water purifiers, the Company is a part of the everyday life of
millions of consumers across India. Its portfolio includes leading household brands
such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Fair & Lovely, Pond’s, Vaseline,
Lakmé, Dove, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Pepsodent, Closeup, Axe, Brooke Bond, Bru,
Knorr, Kissan, Kwality Wall’s and Pureit.
The Company has over 16,000 employees and has an annual turnover of around
Rs.25,206 crores (financial year 2012 - 2013). HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever,
one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong
local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe with annual sales of €51
billion in 2012. Unilever has 67.25% shareholding in HUL.
The Unilever
Foundation
The Unilever Foundation is partnering with five leading global organisations – Oxfam,
Population Services International (PSI), Save the Children, UNICEF, and the World Food
Programme. The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life through the provision
of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-
esteem.
At Unilever, we aim to double the size of our business while reducing our environmental footprint
and increasing our positive social impact. The Unilever Foundation is a key action we are taking to help meet
our ambitious goal of helping more than one billion people improve their health and well-being and, in turn,
create a sustainable future.
Our vision
Unilever products touch the lives of over 2 billion people every day – whether
that's through feeling great because they've got shiny hair and a brilliant smile,
keeping their homes fresh and clean, or by enjoying a great cup of tea, satisfying
meal or healthy snack.
A clear direction
The four pillars of our vision set out the long term direction for the company – where we want to go and how we are
going to get there:
We work to create a better future every day
We help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good
for others.
We will inspire people to take small everyday actions that can add up to a big difference for the world.
We will develop new ways of doing business with the aim of doubling the size of our company while reducing our
environmental impact.
We've always believed in the power of our brands to improve the quality of people’s lives and in doing the right thing.
As our business grows, so do our responsibilities. We recognise that global challenges such as climate change
concern us all. Considering the wider impact of our actions is embedded in our values and is a fundamental part of
who we are.
Purpose & principles
Our corporate purpose states that to succeed requires "the highest standards of corporate
behaviour towards everyone we work with, the communities we touch, and the environment on
which we have an impact."
Always working with integrity
Conducting our operations with integrity and with respect for the many people, organisations and environments our business
touches has always been at the heart of our corporate responsibility.
Positive impact
We aim to make a positive impact in many ways: through our brands, our commercial operations and relationships, through
voluntary contributions, and through the various other ways in which we engage with society.
Continuous commitment
We're also committed to continuously improving the way we manage our environmental impacts and are working towards our
longer-term goal of developing asustainable business.
Setting out our aspirations
Our corporate purpose sets out our aspirations in running our business. It's underpinned by our code of business Principles which
describes the operational standards that everyone at Unilever follows, wherever they are in the world. The code also supports our
approach to governance and corporate responsibility.
Working with others
We want to work with suppliers who have values similar to our own and work to the same standards we do. Our Business partner
code, aligned to our own Code of business principles, comprises ten principles covering business integrity and responsibilities
relating to employees, consumers and the environment.
Code of business principles
Introduction
Unilever has earned a reputation for conducting its business with integrity and with respect for all those whom our
activities affect. This reputation is an asset, just as valuable as our people and our brands.
To maintain this reputation requires the highest standards of behaviour – consistently observed by all of us.
Unilever’s Code of Business Principles sets out these standards and we expect all our employees to adhere to them.
Being a successful business does not just mean investing for growth and balancing short and long term interests. It also
means caring about our consumers, employees and shareholders, our business partners and the world in which we
live.
We therefore want this Code to be more than a collection of high sounding statements. It must have practical value in
our day-to-day business lives and each of us must follow these principles both in the spirit and the letter.
If we do so, Unilever’s reputation will be enhanced, our business will perform better and our professional lives will be
all the more fulfilling.
Standard of Conduct
We conduct our operations with honesty, integrity and openness, and with respect for the human rights and interests
of our employees.
We shall similarly respect the legitimate interests of those with whom we have relationships.
Obeying the Law
Unilever companies and our employees are required to comply with the laws and regulations of the countries in which
we operate.
Employees
Unilever is committed to diversity in a working environment where there is mutual trust and respect and where
everyone feels responsible for the performance and reputation of our company.
We will recruit, employ and promote employees on the sole basis of the qualifications and abilities needed for the
work to be performed.
We are committed to safe and healthy working conditions for all employees. We will not use any form of forced,
compulsory or child labour.
We are committed to working with employees to develop and enhance each individual's skills and capabilities.
We respect the dignity of the individual and the right of employees to freedom of association.
We will maintain good communications with employees through company based information and consultation
procedures.
Consumers
Unilever is committed to providing branded products and services which consistently offer value in terms of price and
quality, and which are safe for their intended use.
Products and services will be accurately and properly labelled, advertised and communicated.
Shareholders
Unilever will conduct its operations in accordance with internationally accepted principles of good corporate
governance. We will provide timely, regular and reliable information on our activities, structure, financial situation and
performance to all shareholders.
Business Partners
Unilever is committed to establishing mutually beneficial relations with our suppliers, customers and business
partners. In our business dealings we expect our business partners to adhere to business principles consistent with
our own.
Community Involvement
Unilever strives to be a trusted corporate citizen and, as an integral part of society, to fulfil our responsibilities to the
societies and communities in which we operate.
Public Activities
Unilever companies are encouraged to promote and defend their legitimate business interests.
Unilever will co-operate with governments and other organisations, both directly and through bodies such as trade
associations, in the development of proposed legislation and other regulations which may affect legitimate business
interests.
Unilever neither supports political parties nor contributes to the funds of groups whose activities are calculated to
promote party interests.
The Environment
Unilever is committed to making continuous improvements in the management of our environmental impact and to
the longer-term goal of developing a sustainable business.
Unilever will work in partnership with others to promote environmental care, increase understanding of environmental
issues and disseminate good practice.
Innovation
In our scientific innovation to meet consumer needs we will respect the concerns of our consumers and of society.
We will work on the basis of sound science applying rigorous standards of product safety.
Competition
Unilever believes in vigorous yet fair competition and supports the development of appropriate competition laws.
Unilever companies and employees will conduct their operations in accordance with the principles of fair competition
and all applicable regulations.
Business Integrity
Unilever does not give or receive whether directly or indirectly bribes or other improper advantages for business or
financial gain. No employee may offer give or receive any gift or payment which is, or may be construed as being, a
bribe. Any demand for, or offer of, a bribe must be rejected immediately and reported to management.
Unilever accounting records and supporting documents must accurately describe and reflect the nature of the
underlying transactions. No undisclosed or unrecorded account, fund or asset will be established or maintained.
Conflicts of Interests
All Unilever employees are expected to avoid personal activities and financial interests which could conflict with their
responsibilities to the company.
Unilever employees must not seek gain for themselves or others through misuse of their positions.
Compliance - Monitoring – Reporting
Compliance with these principles is an essential element in our business success. The Unilever Board is responsible
for ensuring these principles are applied throughout Unilever.
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for implementing these principles and is supported in this by the Corporate
Code Committee chaired by the Chief Legal Officer, Members of the Committee are the Group Secretary, the Chief
Auditor, the SVP HR and the SVP Communications. The Global Code Officer is Secretary to the Committee. The
Committee presents quarterly updates to the Corporate Responsibility and Reputation and the Audit Committee, half-
yearly reports to the Unilever Executive and an annual report to the Board.
Day to day responsibility is delegated to all senior management of the regions, categories, functions and operating
companies. They are responsible for implementing these principles, if necessary through more detailed guidance
tailored to local needs, and are supported in this by Regional Code Committees comprising the Regional General
Counsel together with representatives from all relevant functions and categories. Assurance of compliance is given
and monitored each year. Compliance with the Code is subject to review by the Board supported by the Corporate
Responsibility and Reputation Committee and for financial and accounting issues the Audit Committee.
Any breaches of the Code must be reported in accordance with the procedures specified by the Chief Legal Officer.
The Board of Unilever will not criticise management for any loss of business resulting from adherence to these
principles and other mandatory policies and instructions. The Board of Unilever expects employees to bring to their
attention, or to that of senior management, any breach or suspected breach of these principles. Provision has been
made for employees to be able to report in confidence and no employee will suffer as a consequence of doing so.
Strategies followed by HUL
• Restricted in two Division
• Food
• Home/Personal care products
• Improvement in Portfolio Products
• 400 products selected
• Manufacturing reorganised in regional networks
• IT system reconfigured
• Change in job management structure
• Reduction in managerial job classes
• Develop deep level expertise
Pioneer Strategies
• Building Market and Building brand
• Launch Brand when innovation pipeline is full
• To Deliver sustainable performance by looking long term
• Clarity of Strategies where HUL want to win
• Transformational Changes.
Management Strategies
• Distinguishment of job classes
• Commitment to own professional development
• Global Exposure to managers
• Sound knowledge of Local market
Self Development
o Encompassed Career planning and progression
o Learning and Development
o Remuration
o Reward System
o Competence dictionary
o Job Skill Profile
