How Hindustan Unilever is winning over India’s middle class

In this I by IMD podcast, Rohit Jawa, the former CEO of Hindustan Unilever, outlines how he is reshaping the company’s strategy to meet the evolving needs of India’s growing middle class, leveraging digital transformation, talent development, and a future-focused growth agenda. 

In conversation with IMD’s Jean-François Manzoni, Jawa explains how he is future-proofing the Indian consumer goods giant to take advantage of the nation’s rapidly expanding middle class. 

For nearly a century, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has been flourishing in the Indian subcontinent, growing in tandem with the nation. As India’s largest consumer goods company, the maker of Lux soap, Surf Excel laundry detergent, and Lipton tea has become deeply embedded in the country’s economic and cultural fabric, serving nine out of 10 Indian households and earning its place as the “crown jewel” in Unilever’s global portfolio. 

India is Unilever’s second-largest market after the US, contributing around 10% of the parent company’s turnover. While HUL draws on Unilever’s global R&D and brand strength, it has also become an exporter of talent and innovation, helping shape success in other markets.  

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at what drives the company’s success.