Unilever Focuses on Emerging Markets
Unilever expects to generate more than 70% of group turnover from emerging markets by 2020, up from a current level of 55%. In face of sluggish growth in developed markets, Unilever has been investing heavily to expand its presence in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America, withBrazil,India,ChinaandTurkeyamong the group’s fastest growing markets.
“Europe and theUSwill be, for the next ten years, low-growth territories, I’m afraid. So, soon we will have 75% of our turnover in emerging markets – 70-75% by the end of decade,” says Paul Polman, chief executive of Unilever. “This is also where the 2 billion more people will be born in the next 40 years, and obviously where most of the world growth is going to be.”
He adds: “We are growing by 10% or more now consistently in the emerging markets, and that’s a very healthy growth. We can continue to grow at a 4 to 6% range overall.”
