UNILEVER EYES INDIA FOR PREMIUM BRAND EXPANSION

Unilever has identified India as a key growth driver for its premium beauty, wellness and personal care portfolio, with CEO Fernando Fernandez pledging not to miss the country’s opportunity as it did in China. The company plans to scale digitally native brands and leverage Hindustan Unilever’s acquisitions and R&D hubs.  

Unilever is sharpening its focus on India as the next frontier for premium brand growth, with chief executive officer Fernando Fernandez declaring the country a “large exponential growth opportunity” for the coming decade. Speaking at the 2026 edition of the dbAccess Global Consumer Conference, Fernandez outlined plans to accelerate the international expansion of several of the company’s digitally native brands, including Olly, Nutrafol, Hourglass, K18 and Liquid I.V.  

“We got late to the Chinese party. We will not get late to the Indian party,” Fernandez told investors, emphasising the company’s intent to bring its portfolio of disruptive, super-premium brands into India at the right time. These brands, he explained, are being scaled in the United States before being introduced into international markets, with China already generating close to €80 million in sales.  

India currently contributes around 16% of Unilever’s global revenue, underscoring its significance within the company’s broader strategy of focusing on higher-margin categories such as beauty, wellness and personal care. Fernandez said Unilever’s exposure to India positions it strongly to capture the premiumisation wave sweeping the country’s consumer markets.  

The company’s ambitions are also supported by Hindustan Unilever’s acquisition of skincare and haircare brand Minimalist in April 2025. Global chief financial officer Srinivas Phatak described Minimalist as “a very strong brand to capture the India premium opportunity,” with potential to expand into other Asian markets. The brand’s positioning in face and hair segments aligns with Unilever’s premium growth agenda.  

Unilever’s confidence in India is further reflected in its investment in research and development infrastructure. Hindustan Unilever recently inaugurated the Unilever Fragrance Hub in Mumbai, a facility that forms part of the company’s global R&D network. The hub is expected to play a pivotal role in developing products tailored to Indian consumers while also contributing to global innovation pipelines.  

Fernandez’s remarks highlight a strategic shift for Unilever, which is determined to avoid repeating its delayed entry into China’s premium market. By prioritising India, the company aims to capture rising consumer demand for aspirational, digitally native brands that blend wellness, beauty and lifestyle. With a strong local presence through Hindustan Unilever and a growing portfolio of international premium brands, Unilever is positioning itself to lead in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.