History of Hindustan Unilever: How HUL Became a Household Name in India

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) traces its origins in India to 1888, when Sunlight soap first entered the Kolkata market. The company expanded its product range in the following decades with brands like Lifebuoy, LUX, and Dalda. Today, HUL operates across multiple consumer goods categories, marking over a century of presence in Indian households. This article looks at the history of HUL and how it evolved through its journey.

About the company

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a public limited company founded in 1933, with its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It operates as a subsidiary of Unilever PLC and is a major player in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. As of 2024, HUL employs approximately 27,764 individuals, including 19,109 workers. The company is listed on both the BSE SENSEX and NSE NIFTY 50. In addition to its business operations, HUL is active in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), running various initiatives such as Project Shakti, Swachh Aadat, and Swachh Bharat.

Product Portfolio

HUL offers a wide range of products across multiple categories. In personal care, its brands include Dove, Lifebuoy, Lux, Ponds, Fair & Lovely, Sunsilk, and Vaseline. The home care segment features products like Surf Excel, Vim, and Cif. The company markets brands such as Lipton, Knorr, Brooke Bond, Kissan, Bru, Cornetto, and Magnum in the food and beverages category. Under health and wellness, HUL owns well-known products like Horlicks and Boost.

History of Hindustan Unilever Limited

Here’s a look at Hindustan Unilever history and how the company has evolved in India over the years.

The early years

It all began in 1888 when a British company called Lever Brothers introduced Sunlight soap in India. The first shipment arrived in Kolkata, marking the beginning of branded consumer products in the country. Over the next few decades, names like Lifebuoy, Pears, Lux, and Vim became household staples. In 1931, Unilever took a bigger step by setting up its first Indian company, the Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company. Later, in 1956, it merged several Indian businesses to form Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL).

Growth and popularity

Hindustan Lever Limited quickly became a household name with product launches such as Surf detergent in 1959 and Sunsilk shampoo in 1964. By the 1980s, nearly every Indian home was familiar with brands like Lifebuoy, Lux, Surf, Rin, Sunsilk, and Fair & Lovely. The company expanded its reach across India by establishing factories and offices in key cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.

Key collaborations

In 1994, HLL made headlines by merging with its biggest competitor, Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMCO), in what was then the largest merger in Indian industry. Around the same time, the company began expanding internationally by setting up Unilever Nepal Limited. It also partnered with the US-based Kimberly-Clark Corporation in a 50:50 joint venture called Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd to bring products like Huggies diapers and Kotex feminine care to the Indian market.

A manufacturing facility was set up in Pune in 1995 to support this. HLL also stepped into the frozen treats segment by launching the Wall’s ice cream brand and strengthened its dairy presence by acquiring the Kwality and Milkfood brands.

Expansion and innovation

Between 1996 and 1998, HLL continued to grow rapidly. It joined hands with Indian cosmetics brand Lakme Ltd to form Lakme Lever Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture. The company also entered the staples market by launching its own salt brand, adding everyday kitchen essentials to its portfolio. During this period, HLL’s impressive export performance earned it the prestigious title of a ‘Super Star Trading House’.

In 2000, HLL acquired a 74% stake in Modern Food Industries Ltd, marking the first disinvestment of a public sector company by the Indian government. In 2002, HLL entered the Ayurvedic health and beauty space with its Ayush range and opened therapy centres. By 2004, it was testing its own water purifier, Pureit, in Chennai. In 2006, it shifted Brooke Bond’s food operations to Mumbai.

New identity and accelerated growth

A major milestone came in 2007 when the company officially changed its name to Hindustan Unilever Limited. A year later, in 2008, HUL celebrated 75 years in India and launched Pureit across the country.

In 2013, the company marked its 80th anniversary by launching Prabhat, a community development programme focused on social impact. In 2015, it acquired the Ayurvedic hair oil brand Indulekha. By 2016, six of its brands, including Surf Excel and Lifebuoy, were each generating over ₹2,000 crore in sales.

HUL continued its growth journey in the following years. It opened a modern factory in Doom Dooma, Assam, in 2017, and bought Adityaa Milk’s ice cream business in 2018. By 2022, its turnover had crossed ₹50,000 crore, and it inaugurated a zero-carbon, gender-balanced factory in Sumerpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Strategic shifts and new vision

In 2023, HUL completed 90 years in India. Its Sonepat factory was recognised for adopting modern and advanced technologies. In 2024, the company made key strategic changes: it sold its Pureit water purifier business. It launched a new vision called “Aspire – Unlocking a Billion Aspirations”, under the leadership of CEO and MD Rohit Jawa.

In 2025, HUL continued its momentum and acquired the skincare brand Minimalist, demerged its ice cream business into a new company called Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd, and added two global health and wellness brands, Pukka (herbal teas) and Liquid I.V., to its portfolio.

HUL today

• The company’s products are available in over 9 million outlets.
• They reach 9 out of 10 Indian households.
• The company owns over 50 popular brands in India
• HUL has over 3,500 distributors across the country

Conclusion

Hindustan Unilever’s journey in India has been nothing short of inspiring. From its early days of selling soap to becoming a brand that is found in almost every home, HUL has grown by understanding what people need and care about. The rich history of HUL reflected its commitment to innovation, trust, and social impact. Over the years, HUL has introduced many trusted products and positively impacted communities through its initiatives.

Sources

Hindustan Unilever Limited
Hindustan Unilever Limited
Hindustan Unilever Limited
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