Written on: February 20, 2013 by SprayTM
Unilever, parent company of FMCG major Hindustan Unilever (HUL), said it will invest almost $66.42 million to set up its first aerosol deodorant manufacturing facility in Khamgaon, Maharashtra, India in an effort to expand further into emerging markets. This announcement comes close on the heels of new factories announced for Thailand and South Africa.
Investment in this new factory complements the $93 million committed to building new homecare liquids and distribution facilities in Thailand announced last week and $99.56 million to building a new home care factory and expanding existing manufacturing plants in South Africa announced at the end of January.
Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Unilever, said that the investment in India is part of the company’s broader expansion plans to achieve its ambition of doubling business, while halving environmental impact. “The Khamgaon plant is one of the thirty new factories being built by 2015 and we will utilize the latest technology to deliver the increased quality products our consumers demand whilst meeting the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commitments,” added Sigismondi.
The company said investment in Khamgaon would be phased over three years and production capacity will gradually be scaled up to generate direct employment to over 150 people and indirect employment to about 200 people. The plant will service demand from India and across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. It will utilize the latest technologies to maximize energy efficiency and reduce waste water to zero, the company said.
