Virendra Singh Rawat / Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday inaugurated an ultramodern detergent manufacturing plant of FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) at Sumerpur in Hamirpur district.
The state-of-the-art spray dried detergent factory will manufacture flagship Unilever brands, including Surf Excel, which is among India’s top selling laundry brands.
The CM virtually presided over the inaugural ceremony along with HUL CEO and managing director Sanjiv Mehta.
HUL will invest Rs 700 crore at the Sumerpur plant by 2025, which includes the spray dried detergent powder plant and distribution centre unveiled by Adityanath.
“We are glad that a global company like Unilever has selected UP to establish their ultra-modern factory…we are confident that such investments will support the region’s overall development,” the CM said.
“It is heartening to see the UIL plant take shape in the Bundelkhand region of UP, a state where our company has significant presence. This reinforces Unilever’s long-term commitment to the state and acknowledges the support from the state government,” Mehta underlined.
Meanwhile, HUL executive director (supply chain) Willem Uijen said the new factory stood at the forefront of ultramodern manufacturing for Unilever globally.
“It is designed to make the best use of what the digital 4th industrial revolution has to offer… The site’s integrated design allows for an ecosystem of material suppliers, logistic operators, and manufacturing partners to be located at the site for optimal integration of the supply chain,” he added.
Besides, HUL has set up a fully automated distribution centre, the first of its kind in South Asia for Unilever. The plant has been designed to have a zero carbon footprint. Through the usage of biomass briquette as fuel, the unit will contribute to enhancing the income of 10,000 farmers, as these briquettes are made from agri waste.
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Moreover, the company is working on developing the local logistics market and increasing the number of its suppliers and ancillaries in UP through supplier integration initiatives.