Global consumer goods giant Unilever is sharpening its focus on India, with CEO Fernando Fernandez signalling a stronger push into premium beauty, wellness and personal care categories as the company looks to capitalise on the country’s evolving consumer landscape.
Speaking at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference in Paris, Fernandez said, “We were late to the China party. We will not be late to the India party,” underscoring the company’s determination to capture India’s premium consumption opportunity early.
The comments reinforce a broader strategy that has been taking shape at Unilever over the past year. The company has repeatedly identified India as one of its key growth markets alongside the United States, with plans to increase investments in premium categories, digital commerce and innovation.
Fernandez described India as one of the largest long-term growth opportunities for the company and indicated that Unilever intends to bring more of its global premium portfolio to the country as consumer preferences continue to shift toward higher-value products.
Unilever is building a portfolio of premium and digitally native brands globally, including wellness, beauty and personal care labels such as Olly, Nutrafol, Hourglass, K18 and Liquid I.V. The company sees potential to expand several of these brands into India as the market matures.
India is also expected to play a larger role in Unilever’s premium beauty ambitions through Minimalist, which was acquired by Hindustan Unilever for nearly Rs 3,000 crore in 2025.
Fernandez said the company sees international potential in the skincare and haircare brand, suggesting it could become part of Unilever’s broader premium beauty portfolio beyond India.
For Unilever, the message is clear: India is no longer just a large market, it is a strategic growth engine.
