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The Philippine unit of Unilever is set to beef up its export
products, the company’s new chief executive officer said.
Fernando Fernandez, UPI’s newly appointed top
executive, said he intends “to push for more products that will be
distributed in the international market, such as food, home and
personal care products.”
The average growth of [Unilever’s] market
share in food and toiletries category last year increased by 13
percent, with sales of around P30 billion or an increase of 12
percent over the previous year.
In the food segment, the manufacturer’s market
share rose by 10 percent, especially in the food cubes, mayonnaise,
dressings and seasonings businesses.
Fernandez also announced tapping into the Muslim
market all over the world. The company is just awaiting the approval
of its application for Halal Certification.
Initial products that will be shipped to the
Middle East, Indonesia and Brunei Include mayonnaise, salad
dressings, powdered juices and food cubes.
Chito Macapagal, vice president for corporate
planning, said the sachet market accounts for 70 percent of
Unilever’s total sales.
“Though [we] import bottled shampoos and other
bottled products from neighboring Unilever offices, [we] manufacture
the sachet categories locally as the bulk of [our] sales come from
this market,” he said.
Macapagal said the newly established P1.3
billion “global plant” for its deodorant lines will be
commercially operational in May this year.
“[Once] operational, the facility will beef up
[our] capacity up to 150 million units of stick deodorants and 80
million units of roll-ons,” he said.
-- Katrina Mennen A. Valdez
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