ITC Hindustan Unilever

The hospitality giant has cash and cash equivalent of Rs 1,500 crore

Two India-based facilities of tyre maker CEAT and FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd have joined the Global Lighthouse Network of the World Economic Forum for transforming manufacturing through innovation. Announcing 17 new members to the network, the WEF on Tuesday said this community of 189 industry leaders is pioneering the use of cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in manufacturing. Other new members are based in the United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and newcomer Morocco, home to the first Lighthouse site in Africa. The latest cohort of Lighthouses has observed an average 53 per cent boost in labour productivity and 26 per cent reduction in conversion costs attributed to various digital solutions such as AI, machine learning, advanced analytics and more, the WEF said. On Sriperumbudur facility of CEAT Ltd, the WEF said, "To support global expansion, CEAT needed to manage three times more SKUs ..

The upcoming Union Budget is the near-term catalyst, where central government actions to revive consumption cycle would be key.

ITC Agri Business Division is encouraging the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants to expand the conglomerate's presence in the fast-growing health and wellness products market in the food, personal care and other categories. The agri-division of ITC is working with farmers and helping them to diversify their crops by encouraging them to cultivate high-demand crops like Ashwagandha, Tulsi, and Kalonji in Madhya Pradesh and turmeric in southern states. Through this initiative, ITC looks to meet its requirements by chasing its FMCG ambitions and also leverages the B2B nutraceuticals space, bridging the demand-supply gap in the market, which has evolved rapidly after the pandemic. "As a part of the ITC Next strategy, the company's Agri-Business Division has pivoted its strategic focus towards rapidly scaling up its value-added Agri Products (VAAP) portfolio to accelerate growth and competitiveness. In line with the larger ITC NextGen Agriculture vision, we are focusing on ...

Unilever said earlier this year it would axe 7,500 jobs globally as part of a restructuring to save about 800 million euros

Crude palm oil, one of the main ingredients in the manufacture of some consumer goods, saw a price rise of 45.2 per cent in the last three months

In the past one month, the FMCG index has tanked nearly 11 per cent, as against 6 per cent decline in the BSE Sensex.

Investors will closely monitor quarterly earnings reports alongside manufacturing, composite, and services data for October

The rural markets have outpaced urban demand, registering a 7.6 per cent increase compared to a 5.7 percent rise in urban areas, in the March quarter of FY24

The decline in Hindustan Unilever shares this year has helped improve its multiples. The stock is currently trading at 46 times its forward earnings, below its five-year average of about 54 times

India's personal-care sector is estimated to become a $33 billion market by 2027 from $20 billion in 2022, according to Redseer Management Consulting Pvt

Competitive intensity to remain high, say brokerages as they take a cautious view

AICPDF has also asked for a provision in the software system to prevent billing to outlets without valid FSSAI licenses

As we prepare to welcome 2024, ITC has metamorphosed from a tobacco giant into a conglomerate straddling multiple large-sized businesses

Says favourable demographics and 'Make in India' drive will provide impetus to growth journey

The rusk market is one of the primary examples where local players give established companies a tough time. There are about 2,500 local players engaged in the rusk market

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) became the first fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company to join ONDC last year through UShop

Local brands have been able to capture market share as prices of raw material are lower, making it easier for them to manufacture and sell FMCG products at lower prices

FMCG major Unilever's venture capital arm Unilever Ventures has invested Rs 14.40 crore in health and wellness company What's Up Wellness to ramp up the startup's team and product development. "The (seed) funding round was led by its sole new investor, Unilever Ventures...Notably, this marks Unilever Ventures' first investment in a health & wellness company," Gurugram-based What's Up Wellness said in a statement on Wednesday. The funding round also saw participation from a few of What's Up Wellness' existing investors, it said. "Investment in What's Up Wellness is in line with our strategy of supporting and investing in promising indie brands in the health & wellness space. India presents a large opportunity for the wellness segment and What's Up Wellness, with its innovative and modern formats, aims to capture this fast-transforming market," said Pawan Chaturvedi, Partner-Asia at Unilever Ventures. What's Up Wellness said it will utilise the fresh fund towards ramping up its .

The company expects that the government's push towards raising rural incomes will result in a growth in rural consumption which the company is likely to benefit from