Case Study: Hindustan Lever Limited
Case Study: Hindustan Lever Limited
Overview Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), a leader in the fast-moving consumer goods business, is among the top five exporters in India.15 HLL’s distribution network, with more than 3,400 distributors and 16 million outlets, markets more than a thousand products manufactured in more than a hundred plants across India. The company’s HIV and AIDS program, initiated in 2002, focuses on protecting the health of its skilled young workforce. Its factories have HIV and AIDS awareness initiatives built into their health and safety training. The program also extends beyond the workplace, spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS through two vehicles: Project Sanjivini, which provides medical care to the poor in remote villages of eastern India, and Project Shakti, which focuses on microcredit, training, and empowerment of women. Here HLL makes good use of its expertise in distribu15. The information in the HLL case study is based on HLL’s response to a questionnaire sent to the company by email; a personal interview with the company’s vice president for medical and occupational health at Mumbai; telephone conversations with the medical officers of the company’s northern and southern regions; and HLL’s 2005 annual report (HLL 2006). This information is current as of September 2006.
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Case Study: Hindustan Lever Limited
tion and management to work with rural entrepreneurs in spreading awareness.
Business background HLL is a multinational company 51 percent owned by the AngloDutch company Unilever. Its product portfolio features household and personal care products—including such leading household brands in India as Surf—as well as foods and beverages. The company distributes nearly a thousand products through its network of 4 warehouses, more than 40 agents, 7,500 wholesalers, and many large institutional customers. It also sources raw materials, intermediates, and packaging materials from more than 2,000 suppliers. Net
Overview Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), a leader in the fast-moving consumer goods business, is among the top five exporters in India.15 HLL’s distribution network, with more than 3,400 distributors and 16 million outlets, markets more than a thousand products manufactured in more than a hundred plants across India. The company’s HIV and AIDS program, initiated in 2002, focuses on protecting the health of its skilled young workforce. Its factories have HIV and AIDS awareness initiatives built into their health and safety training. The program also extends beyond the workplace, spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS through two vehicles: Project Sanjivini, which provides medical care to the poor in remote villages of eastern India, and Project Shakti, which focuses on microcredit, training, and empowerment of women. Here HLL makes good use of its expertise in distribu15. The information in the HLL case study is based on HLL’s response to a questionnaire sent to the company by email; a personal interview with the company’s vice president for medical and occupational health at Mumbai; telephone conversations with the medical officers of the company’s northern and southern regions; and HLL’s 2005 annual report (HLL 2006). This information is current as of September 2006.
75
76
Case Study: Hindustan Lever Limited
tion and management to work with rural entrepreneurs in spreading awareness.
Business background HLL is a multinational company 51 percent owned by the AngloDutch company Unilever. Its product portfolio features household and personal care products—including such leading household brands in India as Surf—as well as foods and beverages. The company distributes nearly a thousand products through its network of 4 warehouses, more than 40 agents, 7,500 wholesalers, and many large institutional customers. It also sources raw materials, intermediates, and packaging materials from more than 2,000 suppliers. Net