HUL CEO Rohit Jawa shares success story in homecare business

Jawa highlighted the opportunity presented by India's massive consumer base of 1.4 billion people

Hindustan Unilever's Managing Director and CEO Rohit Jawa in a candid conversation with CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan, delved into the success story of the company, particularly in the homecare category where it has secured market leadership.

Jawa elaborated on the company's evolution in laundry care while emphasising enhanced customer convenience and upgrading product quality. highlighting the emphasis on enhancing customer convenience and product quality. The introduction of fabric conditioners a decade ago stands out as a noteworthy innovation, gaining popularity even in rural areas, he emphasised.

Jawa looks forward to replicating HUL's success in beauty care and packaged foods, expressing a commitment to establishing the company as a leading player in these domains.

HUL's market leadership and innovation in homecare

HUL dominates the homecare market, said Jawa highlighting their success in upgrading customer convenience and product quality in laundry care. The introduction of fabric conditioners a decade ago considered a successful innovation, has now gained popularity even in rural areas, he underlined.

"One category where HUL is the leader of the market is homecare. In the laundry, we have followed a very clear trajectory of upgrading to the convenience of customers and upgrading the quality path. Came with fabric conditioners ten years ago. We lead in the market, we lead in product development," Jawa said.

He added, "Initially we wondered why would one use fabric conditioners. It adds double to the cost. And, ten years from there, I can see in villages comfort conditioner sachets sold in stores. I asked the store person why would anyone use it. She said people ask for conditioners to soften their clothes, to take care of them. In this category, we are going deep. This is the kind of growth we are looking to see in other categories also."

HUL's determination to lead beauty and foods categories

HUL is determined to replicate the company's success in homecare across beauty care and packaged foods, aiming to establish the company as a leader in these domains, Jawa said.

"In a couple of other categories also, we are making a fast pace to make a comeback - in beauty care and packaged foods where I think the pace of transformation will be faster. And, to do this we are building our portfolio to serve all demands. Aiming to be a great beauty company and a great food company. That is what we are determined to do," said Jawa.

Diversifying portfolio for market leadership in multiple categories

He further said the company is diversifying its portfolio to meet evolving consumer demands and cement its position as a market leader in multiple categories.

Jawa highlighted the opportunity presented by India's massive consumer base of 1.4 billion people. He underscored the untapped potential, noting that the per capita consumption in India is only $50 for the relevant product categories.

Jawa also discussed the company's strategic vision for the next decade, anticipating significant growth across various product categories. He highlighted the potential for certain segments to witness exponential expansion, projecting the doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling of growth.