HUL to start new firm for 'in-store' biz

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has decided to set up a joint venture (JV) company with Smollan Holdings of South Africa to build long-term capabilities and bring 'in-store' execution focus in servicing its modern trade customers.

The new company has been named Hindustan Unilever Field Services (HUFS), and will be operational from January 1, 2008.

According to a release issued by HUL to the BSE today, "the operations will begin with the existing modern trade in-store execution team of HUL moving into HUFS."

Smollan Holdings is one of the leading 'in-store execution and field services' companies internationally, and has leading-edge capabilities in servicing modern trade focused on shelf filling, logistics for merchandising materials and in-store execution.

Sanjiv Kakkar, executive director, sales & customer development, HUL, said: "Modern trade in India is growing and evolving very rapidly, and our strategy for winning in this growing retail market is to win at point-of-purchase with our shoppers & by delivering best-in-class service to our modern trade customers. This JV will bring in world- class execution excellenceand build the right capabilities to deliver the company's marketing strategy in modern trade."