Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Unilever Philippines, Inc. has unveiled its new global organization structure to better navigate sustainable growth, faster innovation, and a profitable future as it continues to push consumers to a healthier lifestyle with less environmental impact.
With a new general manager for Nutrition Unilever Southeast Asia, the company sets its eyes on a more efficient and organizational model to produce world-class and sustainable food for the region.
“What we put on our plate has an impact on our health and the health of the planet, and the livelihood of thousands of farmers so as Unilever Nutrition, we’re on a mission to help everyone eat for good today,” said General Manager Kristine Go.
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Driving Nutrition’s Future Foods Ambition in SEA
Nutrition Unilever Southeast Asia serves equivalent to almost 1/10th of the world’s population, which presents various opportunities to continue growing the business in the region in the categories of scratch cooking aids, dressings, and functional nutrition, and to use Unilever’s scale for good.
“We share with our suppliers and growers a joint vision on sustainability, to help minimize negative impacts on the environment, protect biodiversity, and contribute to better rural livelihoods,” Go said.
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“This is how we drive change in our food systems and how we reshape the Southeast Asian food culture to one that is more delicious, more nutritious, and more sustainable,” she added.
In 2020, Unilever announced an expanded Future Foods ambition with two key objectives: to help people transition towards healthier diets; and to help reduce the environmental impact of the global food chain.
With this, Unilever has committed to reach a €1-billion global sales target annually from plant-based meat and dairy alternatives within five to seven years.
By 2025, the corporation has also set a goal to halve food waste in direct operations from factory to shelf and double the number of products that deliver positive nutrition.
Unilever also developed Regenerative Agriculture Principles, which help farmers throughout its supply chain regenerate the land and ensure its long-term viability and resilience while growing ingredients for its products that are in harmony with nature.
For example, Indonesia’s beloved Bango sauce has key ingredients like black soybean and coconut sugar.
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In partnership with the University of Gajah Mhada, the company has developed a distinct variety of soybeans planted during the dry season, helping supplement income for 2500 smallholder farmers.
Working with the Balit Palma Institute, Unilever Indonesia has helped develop a dwarf variety of coconut trees that will provide better yield, significantly higher income for the community, and ultimately promote safer farming practices for both the land and the farmers.
In the Philippines, Sampalok is a key ingredient in Knorr’s portfolio so its partner landmark farms are among those that have successfully integrated sustainability principles in its operations. To date, the partnership benefits over 800 smallholder Sampalok farmers and their families.
Through programs of regenerative agriculture, highlighting nutrient-focused foods, increasing its plant-based portfolio, combating food waste and so much more, Unilever is striving for a future where the food system can put food on 10 billion plates while caring for the planet.
Making nutritious, delicious meals more accessible in the PH
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On average, Filipino families prepare 45 dishes a week. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, fresh home cooking remains universal and occupies most home meal occasions.
Filipinos are viewing health holistically and well-being and family bonding have figured highly in their priorities. And the common denominator that brings these all together is food.
Knorr and Lady’s Choice are among Unilever’s prized food brands in the country, nearly synonymous with Filipino family meal favorites like “Sinigang” and “Macaroni Salad.”
More than being profitable brands that deliver consistent and competitive growth for the company, Unilever’s nutrition brands have made great strides in sustainability and are gearing to accelerate its portfolio transformation aligned with Future Foods’ ambition.
Knorr was able to unlock key partnerships with the government and NGOs to deliver social impact.
The Knorr Nutri-Sarap Program educates and empowers mothers to prepare nutritious, delicious, and affordable meals for the family, successfully delivering 50% improvement on the malnutrition rates of program participants below five years old and impacting 1.5M individuals in Metro Manila and CALABARZON.
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