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Unilever Names India Blueprint for Emerging Market Growth
Unilever is a large company that sells everyday products such as personal-care items.
Its CEO said India is an important example for how the company wants to grow in emerging markets.
He believes India’s consumer-goods market could grow very quickly over the next five years.
More people are moving to cities, earning more money and joining the workforce.
Families and shopping habits are also changing.
Hindustan Unilever said small neighborhood shops still account for much of India’s retail activity.
Quick-commerce services are creating new opportunities for large brands with reliable demand.
The company also wants to sell more premium beauty products and encourage some shoppers to choose larger sachets.
Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez called India the company’s blueprint for emerging-market growth.
Fernandez said India has exceptional FMCG growth potential, driven by urbanisation, rising incomes and changing households.
Unilever reported double-digit growth and accelerating momentum in India this year, according to Fernandez.
Hindustan Unilever CEO Priya Nair said traditional general trade remains India’s dominant retail channel despite quick commerce and modern retail.
The company sees opportunities in quick commerce, premium beauty products and moving consumers from smaller to larger sachets.
- Who
- Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez and Hindustan Unilever CEO Priya Nair discussed the company’s growth prospects in India.
- What
- Unilever identified India as a blueprint for emerging-market growth and highlighted opportunities in FMCG, retail, quick commerce and premium products.
- Where
- India, during comments at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference.
- When
- The remarks were reported on September 10, 2026.
- Why
- Unilever sees growth potential from urbanisation, rising incomes, greater female workforce participation, household fragmentation, rising consumption and premiumisation.
Key facts
- Company
- Unilever plc
- India leadership
- Priya Nair, Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever
- Growth reported
- Unilever cited double-digit growth and accelerating business momentum in India this year.
- Dominant retail channel
- Traditional general trade remains the backbone of India’s retail ecosystem.
- Quick-commerce strategy
- Hindustan Unilever is working with quick-commerce players on supply-chain integration and agility.
- Premium opportunities
- The company highlighted premium hair care and skin care, including brands such as Dove and Vaseline.
- Sachet upgrade opportunity
- Fernando Fernandez described moving consumers from a Re 1 sachet to a Rs 2 sachet as a major opportunity.
Quotes
Fernando Fernandez
Global CEO of Unilever Plc
“The biggest premiumisation opportunity in India is to move consumers from a Re 1 sachet to a Rs 2 sachet”
thehindubusinessline.com
“India is the blueprint of what we are doing in emerging markets”
thehindubusinessline.com
Priya Nair
Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever
“We are working closely with quick commerce players to ensure supply-chain integration and agility”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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