Hindustan Unilever Ltd Stock Price History & Milestones

1888

Sunlight soap introduced in India.

1895

Lifebuoy soap launched.
Lever Brothers appoints agents in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Karachi.

1902

Pears soap introduced in India.

1903

Brooke Bond Red Label tea launched.

1905

Lux flakes introduced.

1913

Vim scouring powder introduced.

1914

Vinolia soap launched in India.

1918

Vanaspati introduced by Dutch manufacturers.

1922

Rinso soap powder introduced.

1924

Gibbs dental preparations launched.

1925

Lever Brothers gets full control of North West Soap Company.

1926

Hartogs registers Dalda Trademark.

1930

Unilever formed by merger of Lever Brothers and Margarine Unie.

1931

Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company registered; Sewri factory site bought.

1932

Vanaspati manufacture starts at Sewri.

1933

Lever Brothers India Limited (LBIL) incorporated to manufacture soaps.

1934

Soap manufacture begins at Sewri.
Garden Reach Factory rented and expanded.

1935

United Traders Pvt. Ltd. incorporated for marketing.

1937

Prakash Tandon joins as one of first Indian managers.

1939

Garden Reach Factory purchased outright.
Focus on building Dalda Vanaspati brand.

1941

Agencies in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Karachi taken over; own sales force acquired.

1942

Unilever decides to train Indians for management positions.

1943

Personal Products manufacture begins at Garden Reach Factory.

1944

Reorganisation of three companies with common management.

1947

Pond's Cold Cream launched.

1951

Prakash Tandon becomes first Indian Director.
Shamnagar, Tiruchy, and Ghaziabad Vanaspati factories bought.

1955

65% of managers are Indians.

1956

Converted to public limited company.
Amalgamated with Hindustan Vanaspati Mfg. Co. and others, renamed Hindustan Lever Ltd.
Unilever offers 557,000 equity shares to public.

1957

Unilever approves research activity for Hindustan Unilever.

1958

Research Unit starts at Mumbai Factory.

1959

Surf launched.

1961

Prakash Tandon becomes first Indian Chairman.

1962

Formal Exports Department starts.

1963

Head Office at Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai, opened.

1964

Etah dairy set up, Anik ghee launched.
Animal feeds plant at Ghaziabad.
Sunsilk shampoo launched.

1965

Signal toothpaste launched.
Indian shareholding increases to 14%.

1966

Lever's baby food and new foods introduced.
Nickel catalyst production begins.
Taj Mahal tea launched.

1967

Hindustan Unilever Research Centre opens in Mumbai.

1968

V. G. Rajadhyaksha takes over as Chairman.
Fine Chemicals Unit commissioned at Andheri.

1969

Rin bar launched.
Bru coffee launched.

1971

Diversification into chemicals plan approved.
Clinic shampoo launched.

1973

T. Thomas takes over as Chairman.

1974

Pilot plant for industrial chemicals at Taloja.
Liril marketed.

1975

Ten-year modernisation plan for soaps and detergents.
Close-up toothpaste launched.

1976

Haldia chemicals complex construction begins.
Taloja chemicals unit begins functioning.

1977

Synthetic detergents plant in Jammu commissioned.

1978

Indian shareholding increases to 34%.
Fair & Lovely skin cream launched.

1979

Haldia industrial undertaking for sodium tri-polyphosphate, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid set up.

1980

Unilever sells shares to reduce non-resident holding to 51%.

1982

Government allows 51% Unilever shareholding.

1983

Synthetic detergents plant in Chindwara commissioned.
Detergent and toilet soap factory leased from Stephans Chemicals.
New fine chemical unit commissioned.

1984

Foods and Animal Feeds businesses transferred to Lipton.

1985

Diammonium phosphate manufacturing project commissioned.

1986

Lux toilet soap launched.
Agri-products unit at Hyderabad starts; Khamgaon Soaps and Yavatmal Personal Products units start production.

1987

Lifebuoy Personal and Breez soaps launched.

1988

HUL sets up biopolymers facility at Pondicherry with National Starch.
HUL leases detergents undertakings of Union Home Products.

1989

Synthetic Detergent plant at Sumerpur and Toilet soap plant at Orai commissioned.
Cracking catalyst plant at Haldia commissioned.
Vegetable oil plant at Kandla commissioned.

1991

HUL commissions Seed and Tissue culture projects at Hyderabad.
HUL commissions toilet preparations plant at Pondicherry.

1992

HUL enters dental market with Pepsodent and Mentadent G.
HUL sets up leather garments factory in Chennai.
HUL sets up aquaculture centre at Tanjavur.

1993

Tata Oil Mills Co. (TOMCO) merges with HUL.

1994

HUL forms 50:50 JV Kimberley-Clark Lever Ltd. with Kimberley-Clark.

1995

HUL forms Lakme Lever Ltd. JV with Lakme.
HUL acquires Kwality and Milkfood brandnames and distribution assets.
HUL forms Lever Johnson JV with S.C. Johnson.
HLL Soaps and Detergent sales cross one million tonnes.

1996

Brooke Bond India amalgamated with HUL.
HUL forms Lever Johnson Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd. JV with S C Johnson.

1997

HUL receives Solvent Extractors' Association Award for highest exporter of Rice Bran Extractions.

1998

Pond's India merges with HUL.
HUL acquires Lakme brand, factories, and 50% equity in Lakme Lever Ltd.
HUL acquires manufacturing rights of Kwality icecream.

1999

HUL merges Industrial Perfumes Ltd.
HUL sells dairy business to Nutricia.

2000

HUL acquires Modern Foods.

2001

HUL transfers seeds business to Paras Extra Growth Seeds Ltd.
International Bestfoods becomes HUL subsidiary.
HUL sells Nickel Catalyst and Adhesives businesses to ICI India.

2002

Project Shakti launched, bringing 20% rise in rural consumption.
HUL enters ayurvedic healthcare with Lever Ayush products.
HUL acquires remaining 26% stake in Modern Foods for Rs 44.07 crore.
HUL forays into snack foods under Knorr Annapurna brand.

2003

HUL ties up with Pepsi for distribution.
HUL acquires Amalgam Group's seafoods business.
HUL sells Glucovita to Wipro.
Unilever hands global marketing of Pears to HUL.

2004

HUL re-launches Rin Shakti Powder and Bar.
HUL launches Pureit water purifier.
HUL launches 'Perfect Radiance' skincare under Fair & Lovely.
HUL launches Domex Thick disinfectant cleaner.
HUL launches two imported products under Lakme brand.
HUL enters kids' personal care market.
HUL sells Kissan factory in Bangalore for Rs 60 crore.
HUL inks pact with Pepsi in beverage segment.

2005

HUL sets up HPC factory in Himachal with Rs 110 crore investment.
HUL introduces iced tea in glass bottles.
Unilever Overseas Holdings divests shares in Rossell Industries.

2006

Brookefields food operations moved to Mumbai.

2007

Company name changed from Hindustan Lever Ltd to Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

2008

Sanjiv Kakkar appointed Chairman, Unilever Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
HUL completes 75 years on 17th October.

2009

R Sridhar appointed Chief Financial Officer.
HUL licenses 'Lakme' and 'Lever Ayush' brands to Lakme Lever Private Limited.

2010

HUL exits Capgemini Business Services by selling 49% stake.
Dev Bajpai appointed Executive Director, Legal and Company Secretary.
HUL introduces 'Must Win 2010' distribution initiative.
Manvinder Singh Banga leaves Unilever after 33 years.
HUL launches Pureit Compact water purifier at Rs 1,000.
HUL divests part of stake in Hindustan Field Services.

2011

HUL changes corporate office details.
HUL launches 'Bru World Café'.
HUL re-launches Lifebuoy talcum powder.
HUL starts campaign to save water.
HUL taps banks and telecom firms for rural penetration.
HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh resigns from HUL board.

2012

HUL enters agreement with Unilever to market Brylcreem in India.
HUL signs agreement with Piramal Realty for assignment of Gulita leasehold rights for Rs 452.5 crore.
HUL shifts registered office to Unilever House, Andheri East, Mumbai.

2013

Unilever announces €50 million investment for Khamgaon plant.
HUL launches Domex Toilet Academy.
Unilever launches Project Sunlight.

2014

Unilever partners with Internet.org to increase internet access in rural India.
HUL launches Prabhat initiative for community development around factories.
Unilever helps families live more sustainably at home.
HUL partners with MTV to endorse brands.

2015

HUL launches The Unilever Foundry.
HUL signs agreement with Mosons Group for acquisition of 'Indulekha' brand.
HUL recognized as most innovative marketer on mobile at MMA.
HUL revives Ayush with e-launch.
HUL awarded 'Client of the Year'.
HUL wins five awards at awards.
HUL launches 'Swachh Aadat, Swachh Bharat' programme.

2016

HUL signs agreement with LT Foods for sale of rice business.
Khamgaon factory awarded CII Sustainability Award.
HUL retains 'Client of the Year' at Effies.
HUL recognized among Top 10 Best Companies for Women.
HUL recognised at Cold Chain Industry Awards.
HUL digital campaigns win at CMO Asia Awards.

2017

New unit in Assam starts commercial production.
HUL develops technology to reduce plastic sachet waste.
HUL receives national certificate of recognition from ICSI.
Puducherry factory ranks second at CII-SR EHS Excellence Awards.
Project Prabhat wins at Social Change Awards.
HUL wins National Award for excellence in Employee Relations.
HUL wins CII National Food Safety Award.
Haridwar factory wins bronze at WCM Awards.
HUL launches 'A Playing Billion' campaign.
HUL awarded for Excellence in Water Management.
HUL wins at Marquee Awards.
HUL emerges as No. 1 Employer of Choice.

2018

HUL briefly surpasses ITC in market valuation to become fourth most valued firm.
HUL enters top-five most valued companies with m-cap over Rs 3 lakh crore.
HUL integrates food and refreshment categories in South Asia.

2019

HUL announces commitments to reduce plastic waste, eliminating over 100,000 tonnes by 2025.

2020

OYO and Unilever partner to enhance business.
HUL collaborates with UNICEF for COVID-19 mass communication campaign.
HUL acquires VWash, market leader in female intimate hygiene.
GSK Consumer Healthcare merges with HUL, adding Horlicks and Boost brands.
Unilever Mouthwash proven to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load by 99.9%.

2021

HUL's Sanjiv Mehta received Pralhad P Chhabria Memorial Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to FMCG Industry.
HUL and Google, with MyGov India, announce AI for agriculture Hackathon.

2022

HUL's Dapada factory joins WEF's Lighthouse Network.
NIESBUD partners HUL to develop skills and create livelihood opportunities.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister inaugurated Unilever India Limited’s new factory in Sumerpur.

2023

Company signed agreement with Uma Global Foods and Uma Consumer Products for sale of atta and salt business for Rs 60.4 crore.
HUL received Best Company award in ESG practices in Consumer Products sector at KPMG India ESG Excellence Awards.
HUL and HSBC launched Suvidha Centre in Dharavi.
HUL and Genpact launched Be.Seen to scale minority-owned businesses in India.

2024

HUL wins CII Grand Jury Award for Industry-Academia partnership.
HUL and MoHUA forge partnership to launch Hygiene & Sanitation Center of Excellence.
HUL launches second edition of 'Women in STEM' fellowship.
HUL introduces Foster and Kinship Caregiver Leave Policy.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd

Company History