Part of Unilever
Hindustan Unilever
Hindustan Unilever is seen at low double-digit revenue growth for the September quarter (ET BrandEquity, 12 Oct), and it is widening into protein with Horlicks shakes and powders (Mint, 11 Sept). Input-cost inflation of 10–15% is squeezing margins (CNBC-TV18, 18 Sept), and detergent prices rose 2.2% to 7.1% in October (NDTV Profit, 7 Oct).
What it means
Hindustan Unilever's sales held but its profit did not; the repair runs through price hikes and input costs.
Reported: Revenue +10% YoY but net profit −3% in Q1 FY27.
Watch: Q2 FY27 results on 28 Oct — net profit falls YoY again.
- Affected
- Hindustan Unilever's raw-material and packaging suppliers — first in line for cost cutsDo now: expect it to ask for lower prices after that fall in net profit; tie any cut to volume.
- Britannia and Nestle India — a rival short of marginDo now: test your prices where you overlap with it; its next results show whether its margin recovers.
Latest moves
Our read of each move first, where we have one; what the report said is marked Reported.
- Reported: HUL appoints Yogesh Mulgaonkar CFO, Beauty & Wellbeing, while he stays on as Head of Investor RelationsReported: Watch:
- Reported: Prepare for sustained FMCG shelf-price inflation and use larger suppliers’ scale and promotional support to protect category volumes as smaller brands face margin pressure.Reported: FMCG price hikes set to continue as input costs rise, Nuvama says. Nuvama expects 10–15% input-cost inflation to keep FMCG pricing elevated, with larger players such as HUL, ITC, Marico and Pidilite better placed to protect margins and gain share from smaller rivals.Watch:
- Reported: Retail operators should expect HUL’s Surf Excel and Vim to regain cleaner shelf-level messaging after the court halted Beco’s unsubstantiated safety-focused comparative ads.Reported: Delhi High Court halts Beco ads targeting HUL’s Surf Excel and VimWatch:
- Reported: HUL is using Horlicks’ trusted mass-nutrition positioning and broad distribution to make protein more accessible through ₹120 ready-to-drink shakes and affordable powder servings, beginning with urban consumers.Reported: HUL is testing ready-to-drink Horlicks Protein shakes and expanding its powder range, initially targeting urban consumers. The ₹120 shake and roughly ₹83-per-serving powder play aims to use Horlicks’ mass nutrition equity and HUL’s distribution to grow beyond India’s still-small protein-consumer base.Watch:
Background
From 7 stories, the newest dated 9 Oct 2026. Summary written 10 Oct 2026.
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is a fast-moving consumer goods company in India.
Show 3 more paragraphs and 7 sources
Surf Excel is its detergent brand, and it also sells Wheel and Rin detergents. [1] source: NDTV Profit[2] source: afaqs For older consumers it offers Pond's Age Miracle, Lakmé Retinol Advanced Renewal and Horlicks Strength Plus and Diabetes Plus. [3] source: Business Standard
HUL will announce Q2 FY27 results on 28 October 2026. [1] source: NDTV Profit In October 2026 it raised detergent prices by 2.2% to 7.1% across Wheel, Surf Excel and Rin pack sizes, per dealer checks. [1] source: NDTV Profit[4] source: NDTV Profit NDTV Profit reported the rises came amid palm oil costs of around 20–30% and packaging costs up around 50%. [4] source: NDTV Profit Surf Excel Easy Wash has seen four hikes this year. [4] source: NDTV Profit In October 2026 Surf Excel released a new Daag Achhe Hain film, extending a campaign begun in 2005. [2] source: afaqs HDFC Securities' Q2 preview said HUL, Dabur and Emami may see single-digit growth. [5] source: NDTV Profit
Priya Nair is HUL's CEO. [2] source: afaqs In October 2026 HUL appointed Yogesh Mulgaonkar CFO, Beauty & Wellbeing; he stays on as Head of Investor Relations and joined HUL in 2005. [6] source: Storyboard18 Amit Agarwal, named CFO-designate of Pidilite Industries effective 9 October 2026, spent nearly 18 years at Hindustan Unilever. [7] source: Storyboard18
Sources
- HUL raises detergent prices again in October across Wheel, Surf Excel and Rin, with hikes of up to 7.1%
- HDFC Securities expects ~12% FMCG revenue growth in Q2, but raw material inflation squeezes margins
- HUL appoints Yogesh Mulgaonkar CFO, Beauty & Wellbeing, while he stays on as Head of Investor Relations
- Fevicol maker Pidilite names Pfizer's Amit Agarwal CFO-designate, effective 9 October
Questions about Hindustan Unilever
Who leads Hindustan Unilever?
Priya Nair is the CEO of Hindustan Unilever, and she endorsed the new Surf Excel Daag Achhe Hain film on LinkedIn in October 2026. In October 2026 HUL also appointed Yogesh Mulgaonkar CFO, Beauty & Wellbeing. [2] source: afaqs[6] source: Storyboard18
What is Hindustan Unilever's current strategy in India?
In October 2026 Hindustan Unilever raised detergent prices by 2.2% to 7.1% across Wheel, Surf Excel and Rin. In the same month Surf Excel released a new Daag Achhe Hain film, and HUL appointed Yogesh Mulgaonkar CFO, Beauty & Wellbeing. [1] source: NDTV Profit[4] source: NDTV Profit[2] source: afaqs[6] source: Storyboard18
Who are Hindustan Unilever's main competitors?
Hindustan Unilever and ITC are both targeting consumers over the age of 45 with tailored products. HUL's range includes Pond's Age Miracle, Lakmé Retinol Advanced Renewal and Horlicks Strength Plus and Diabetes Plus. [3] source: Business Standard
More stories about Hindustan Unilever
Stories that mention Hindustan Unilever
7 stories
Hindustan Unilever is named in these stories but is not their subject.
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