Unilever Sri Lanka, the manufacturer of the country’s most favorite consumer goods brands was recently crowned as the Best Multinational in Sri Lanka by LMD Brands Annual. As a publication of Media Services, LMD Brands Annual presents and profiles Sri Lanka’s leading brands and is undoubtedly the most comprehensive analysis of brands in Sri Lanka.
Chairman of Unilever Sri Lanka, Mr. Carl Cruz voiced his thoughts on this monumental occasion saying, “I am elated to know that Unilever Sri Lanka was able to claim this coveted title in the industry. This a sign that our efforts to be the leader in the arena is paying off. As marketers who advocate for truth in advertising, responsible marketing and put consumer safety at the heart of everything we do; we will continue to cement our purpose of making sustainable living commonplace in every aspect of our business. The business case for sustainability makes simple sense as progressive consumers look for brands that have a higher purpose. We make it our business to be the closest to our consumers.”
Since its inception in 1938, Unilever Sri Lanka has established themselves as one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in Sri Lanka. Their current product portfolio includes 29 market leading brands in categories such as Home Care, Personal Care and Consumables and 96% of their products are manufactured locally, while adhering to the strictest international manufacturing standards.
The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is their proprietary initiative to decouple the company’s growth from environmental impact, while increasing its positive social impact. The plan has three big goals that by 2020 will help improve people’s health and well-being, reduce the company’s environmental footprint, and enhance livelihoods across its value chain.
An example of this plan in action is Project Saubhagya; their key initiative under the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan pillar of providing opportunities for women. Being a longstanding symbol of women’s empowerment in rural areas, this project empowers women through entrepreneurialism, helping rural women become direct-to-home ambassadors of Unilever brands. As Unilever Sri Lanka is invested in the future of the country, they strongly believe that women must have a seat at the table when determining the path forward for the nation.
The Project Sunshine Retailer Livelihood Development programme is yet another example of Unilever’s commitment of enhancing livelihoods. With changing consumer lifestyles and convenience being at the forefront of decision making, the small-scale retail community in Sri Lanka needed to stay abreast with these changes in order to thrive. Unilever’s Project Sunshine teaches retailers how to stay competitive in an evolving market. Today, Project Sunshine has positively impacted the lives of 212,000 people in communities around Sri Lanka.
Over the past 81 years, Unilever Sri Lanka has been deeply rooted in Sri Lankan society, curating a landscape that preserves and nurtures the true Sri Lankan way of life. Enhancing the livelihoods of the communities they operate in will continue to be at the forefront of this effort as they continue to set industry standards.