Abstract

This is a three-part case on India’s largest consumer goods company, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), a subsidiary of Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch multinational company. The case traces HUL’s journey from inception till the end of 2018 with an emphasis on the last two decades. The case also documents developments at Unilever during the last two decades. Students analyze HUL’s strategy and performance in the context of the changing competitive landscape in India as well as the strategic imperatives of Unilever. The case also helps them examine the impact of the evolving parent-subsidiary relationship on HUL’s strategic choices.

Learning Objective (maximum of 500 characters): Briefly describes teaching goals of the case.

1. Assess the strategic and organizational challenges faced by (emerging market) subsidiaries of MNCs.
2. Examine how a parent company’s strategy and evolving relationship with a subsidiary impact the latter’s strategy and performance.