03.21.23
Unilever, which welcomed a new CEO earlier this year, has announced it will invest €20 million ($21.4 million) in a new production facility in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, which it says will support its growing business and demonstrate its long-term commitment to the country.
Construction will start this year, with the factory expected to open in 2024.
The factory will also be built to the highest environmental standards using renewable energy technologies, contributing to Unilever’s target of net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039.
Vasyl Bovdilov, general manager, Unilever Ukraine, said, “This investment shows our long-term commitment to the country and its people, including our employees, customers and partners. It is also a fitting way to mark the 30th anniversary of our business in Ukraine, which we will celebrate later this year.
“Our new manufacturing facility will create new jobs, increase our production capacity, and above all serve the needs of Ukrainian consumers with high quality, sustainable products.”
Unilever currently employs more than 100 people in Ukraine.
“We simply cannot find the words to describe our disappointment that such companies as Unilever are not leaving the Russian market,” a representative for the Economic Security Council of Ukraine told MarketWatch. “It’s making their hands bloodstained because of what Russia is doing in Ukraine.”
“We understand why there are calls for Unilever to leave Russia. We also want to be clear that we are not trying to protect or manage our business in Russia. However, for companies like Unilever, which have a significant physical presence in the country, exiting is not straightforward,” Unilever responded in a statement.
Construction will start this year, with the factory expected to open in 2024.
Creating Jobs & Supplying the Local Market
The new factory will create around 100 jobs and will manufacture personal care products including shampoos and shower gels for brands such as Dove, Axe, TRESemmé and Clear. The hub will predominantly supply the local Ukrainian market but has future potential to export to European markets.The factory will also be built to the highest environmental standards using renewable energy technologies, contributing to Unilever’s target of net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039.
Vasyl Bovdilov, general manager, Unilever Ukraine, said, “This investment shows our long-term commitment to the country and its people, including our employees, customers and partners. It is also a fitting way to mark the 30th anniversary of our business in Ukraine, which we will celebrate later this year.
“Our new manufacturing facility will create new jobs, increase our production capacity, and above all serve the needs of Ukrainian consumers with high quality, sustainable products.”
Unilever currently employs more than 100 people in Ukraine.
Unilever Remains in Russia
This news comes as Unilever remains under fire over its decision to continue doing business in Russia.“We simply cannot find the words to describe our disappointment that such companies as Unilever are not leaving the Russian market,” a representative for the Economic Security Council of Ukraine told MarketWatch. “It’s making their hands bloodstained because of what Russia is doing in Ukraine.”
“We understand why there are calls for Unilever to leave Russia. We also want to be clear that we are not trying to protect or manage our business in Russia. However, for companies like Unilever, which have a significant physical presence in the country, exiting is not straightforward,” Unilever responded in a statement.
