Good rains should help improve rural demand: Sanjiv Mehta

Hindustan Unilever reported a decline in volume growth for the September quarter after seven years

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) reported a decline in volume growth for the September quarter after seven years. In an interaction with media, managing director & chief executive Sanjiv Mehta spelt out his priorities. Edited excerpts:
 
Clearly, the focus on volume growth has not yielded results for HUL, as the demand environment remains challenged and the commodity inflation is setting in.
 
This quarter was challenging because we increased prices in personal wash (soaps). But, that does not mean we will take our eyes off volume growth. In an inflationary environment, price hikes in a sense is inevitable. But, pricing