Picture 25 icons woven together forming a U shape. That’s the Unilever corporate logo designed by Wolff Olins since July 2004. We are standing before Unilever Philippines. It is the Philippine subsidiary of the British multinational consumer goods company Unilever. Unilever Philippines is a manufacturer of home and personal care products, foods, and ice cream.
Unilever Philippines has been located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig since 2016. It produces laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, and more. They also make toothpastes, deodorants, skin care products, household cleaners, and toilet soaps. The annual sales are over 40 billion pesos. Unilever Philippines employs over 1000 people.
Let’s dive into the history. Unilever Philippines was established in 1927 as Philippine Refining Company PRC. It began as an oil miller producing nearly 100000 tons of coconut oil yearly. The company expanded into margarine production in the 1930s. Non soap detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste followed in the 1960s and 1970s. Sulphonation technology and a cogeneration power plant were added in the 1980s.
In the 1990s, the company focused on environmental improvements. They introduced the first 100% biodegradable detergent bar in the Philippines. In 1993, the company name changed to Unilever Philippines PRC Inc. They introduced a gold and platinum icon and a silver triangle to mark the change. The first tagline was Total Quality Paglilingkod namin sa inyo.
In 1997, Unilever changed the format creating two towers shaped into a U. It featured a handwritten typeface and a blue icon. Total Quality developed the brand for this logo. This logo was used until June 2004.
From 1998 to mid 2010, Unilever TV commercials ended with the company logo and the voiceover From Unilever. Later, the logo appeared through peeling at the upper left or right of the screen. Since 2020, the logo uses the upward dice version.
Unilever Philippines manages many well known brands. These include Axe, Best Foods, Breeze, and Camay. Cif, Clear, Close Up, and Cream Silk are also part of their portfolio. Domex, Dove, Dr. Kaufmann, and Eskinol are other brands under Unilever. They also handle Fissan, Knorr, Lady’s Choice, and Lifebuoy. The company also manages Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, and Master. Pepsodent, Pond’s, Rexona, and Selecta Ice Cream are also Unilever brands. Sunsilk, Suave, Surf, Toni and Guy, and TRESemmé are also included. Furthermore, Unilever Pureit, Vaseline, Vitakeratin, and Zest are part of their brand lineup.
Some former brands include Alsa, Comfort, and Dimension Multi V. Impulse, Liqui Fresh, Lux, and Milkrema were also once part of Unilever. Organics, Rave, Rinso, and Royal are also former brands. Royco, Signal, Sunlight, Superwheel, Tempo, Timotei, and Wheel were also under Unilever.
Unilever is further developing its local manufacturing capabilities and supply chain strategies. This meets the needs of the Filipino market. Over 90% of Unilever products sold here are manufactured locally. These products are made in factories in Pasig City, General Trias, Cavite, and Cabuyao, Laguna. The newest Beauty Wellbeing and Personal Care factory increased production capacity by 60%. These locally made products are exported to the US, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East.
Unilever aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2039. It harnesses AI driven insights to monitor market trends. The company optimizes its ecosystem for agility and optimized costs. The ASEAN region and the Philippines are key growth areas for Unilever. The company enhances its local supply chain processes and strategies. This solidifies its importance as a key driver of Unilever’s global growth.
Unilever Philippines has a rich history. It has evolved from an oil milling business to a leading consumer goods manufacturer. Its commitment to innovation and sustainability ensures its continued success in the Philippines.