Unilever said it is expanding its local manufacturing capabilities and supply chain strategies to serve its significant Filipino market.
Present in about nine of 10 Filipino homes, the multinational consumer goods company’s products are household names, requiring a steady supply to meet constant consumer demand.
Over 90 percent of Unilever products sold in the Philippines are currently manufactured locally. Production takes place at factories in Pasig City, General Trias, Cavite and a collaborative facility in Cabuyao, Laguna. Since the late-2023 inauguration of its newest Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care (BWPC) factory, production capacity for that portfolio has increased by 60 percent.
These locally-made products are also exported to Unilever markets in the U.S., Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East, highlighting the company’s confidence in the Philippines as a global manufacturing hub for its well-known brands.
“Supply chain is the operational backbone of Unilever,” said Fredy Ong, the company’s chairman and chief executive.
“We live in a world where consumers increasingly want faster, customized, and personalized products. With brands like Rexona, Sunsilk, Selecta, Breeze, and Knorr under our belts, we must always have a reliable stock of high-quality products and a supply chain that will deliver superior products and services at an excellent value, “ he said.
Unilever’s supply chain strategy employs cutting-edge technology and Industry 4.0 tools to optimize processes across its end-to-end value chain. Thanks to these technological upgrades, the newest BWPC factory has increased efficiency and reduced machinery by about 40 percent.
Unilever said its factories in the Philippines and worldwide are powered by renewable grid electricity. Its Foods factory recently signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with a global company to supply solar-powered electricity for factory operations.
Unilever’s facilities are also strategically located to minimize fuel usage and reduce the carbon footprint – integral steps toward its ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2039.
The company’s technology use also extends to analytics and data access. It leverages AI-driven insights to accurately monitor and respond to market, customer, and operational trends, and automates routine tasks to increase efficiency while promoting a balanced work culture.
