Introduction

Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company. It deals in Home & Personal Care Products and Foods & Beverages. It is India’s largest FMCG Marketer with 35 Power Brands. It touches lives of 2 out of 3 Indians across. They endow the company with a scale of combined volumes of about 4 million tonnes and sales of Rs.10, 000 Crores. 

History

In 1888, Unilever entered Indian markets. In 1931, Unilever set up its first Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company, followed by Lever Brothers India Limited (1933) and United Traders Limited (1935). These three companies merged to form HLL in November 1956.

Unilever now holds 51.55% equity in the company. The rest of the shareholding is distributed among about 380,000 individual shareholders and financial institutions.

From the very beginning HLL has vigorously responded to the stimulus of economic growth. The growth process has been accompanied by judicious diversification, always in line with Indian opinions and aspirations.

The 1990s witnessed a string of crucial mergers, acquisitions and alliances on the Foods and Beverages front.

In January 2000, in a historic step, the government decided to award 74 per cent equity in Modern Foods to HLL, thereby beginning the divestment of government equity in public sector undertakings (PSU) to private sector partners. 

Largest exporter

HLL is also one of the country's largest exporters; it has been recognised as a Golden Super Star Trading House by the Government of India. 

Mission

The mission that inspires HLL's 36,000 employees, including over 1,350 managers, is to "add vitality to life." HLL meets everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. HLL shares this mission with its parent company, Unilever 

Distribution Network

HLL's distribution network comprises about 7,000 redistribution stockists. They directly cover the entire urban population, and about 250 million rural consumers.

HLL's brands are household names across the country and span many categories - soaps, detergents, personal products, tea, coffee, branded staples, ice cream and culinary products. They are manufactured in close to 80 factories. The operations involve over 2,000 suppliers and associates.

Careers

HLL recruits, employs and promotes employees on the sole basis of the qualifications and abilities needed for the work to be performed. There are clearly defined functional areas for recruiting employees.

• Sales And Marketing
• Human Resources
• Commercial
• Information Technology
• Research
• Technical

There is a well defined growth path for each functional area. The link defining the growth path in different functional areas is http://www.hll.com/careers/working_career_path.asp

Careers in R&D

HLL incorporates latest technology in all its operations. HLL believes in innovating products and services with deep consumer insight and leading edge R & D. The Hindustan Lever Research Centre (HLRC) was set up in 1958, and now has facilities in Mumbai and Bangalore. The Hindustan Lever Research Centre (HLRC) is the largest private sector industrial research establishment in India.

HLRC and the Global Technology Centres in India have over 200 highly qualified scientists and technologists, many with post-doctoral experience acquired in the US and Europe. The company has many achievements in these areas, with close to 300 patents till date.

Following are the principal labs where HLL scientists strive to invent products that will improve the quality of life of people everywhere, every day:  

• The Personal Wash Research Group
• The Chemicals Research Group
• The Material Science and Chemical Engineering Group
• The Laundry Research Group
• The Measurement Sciences Group
• The Skin & Hair Care Group
• The Tea Science Group
• The Beverages Innovation Centre
• The Consumer Science Group
• The Ice Cream Innovation Centre
• The Household Care Group
• The Culinary Innovation Group

If you are looking for a place that offers a growing career in research, the Hindustan Lever Research Centre (HLRC), is just the place for you.

Requisite qualification:

Chart of requisite qualifications for a career in FMCG sector.

Value System

Unilever conducts its business with integrity. It cares about consumers, employees and shareholders, business partners and the world in which we live. That means investing for growth and balancing short-term and long-term interests.

All the operations at HLL are conducted with honesty, integrity and openness, and with respect for the human rights and interests of employees.

HLL believes in localization. HLL brings its wealth of knowledge and international expertise to the service of local consumers. This policy has helped Unilever in being a multi-local multinational.

For Comments: psjamwal@amity.edu