Unilever: years of progress in Russia got the company prepared to meet the challenges of crisis economy

Sanjiv Kakkar, Chairman Unilever Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, carried out his first press-lunch with representatives of the leading Russian media. Mr. Kakkar has been holding his current position for little more then 6 months. A significant part of this time fell for the tough period of global economical crises development in Russia. Today Sanjiv met the journalists to discuss the results of Unilever activities in 2008, share the company’s views for the nearest future as well as his vision of the Russian FMCG market perspectives and trends.

As Mr. Kakkar had noticed earlier, Russia is one of the top priority countries for Unilever: nowadays this market totals up to 140 million consumers and has huge potential to further extension. In 2008 Unilever business in Russia kept showing stable growth. Among the most significant events Mr. Kakkar highlighted the launch of additional production facilities on Saint-Petersburg tea factory, investment agreement on construction of a multifunctional complex in the Tula Region, acquisition of the Russian ice-cream market leader Inmarko company.

“We see the international financial crisis although is a problem for the global business, it is also an opportunity. I believe that Unilever Russia at the end of the crisis will be stronger than it was at the beginning of the process. It will be stronger in the market place, it will be stronger with its people, stronger with its customers”, - says Sanjiv Kakkar.

Evaluating the perspectives of Unilever business development in Russia Mr. Kakkar pointed out its growing export potential. Today the company exports its personal care goods manufactured onshore to Western and Eastern Europe (including UK, France, Switzerland) as well as CIS countries, which definitely plays its role in positive increasing of the Russian foreign trade balance.