Unilever demonstrates R&D can raise product quality, variety

Unilever plc has shown that companies can raise the quality of their products as well as discover many others if they set up research and development (R&D) departments or have them properly organised.

Unilever, a global brand, is the manufacturer of Close Up toothpaste, Blueband butter, Knorr and Royco cubes, Vaseline, Lipton, Peers, among others.

Globally, the firm has a R&D department that employs over 6,000 professionals spanning 20 countries, Real Sector Watch has learnt.

One result of such R&D is the manufacture of products that have generally been adjudged ‘high quality’ by market analysts. For instance, Close Up still leads the toothpaste industry in the country, having remained consistently upwards in terms of quality since its introduction, say analysts.

Lipton is being recommended by health experts, owing to what analysts attribute to innovation that tailors products to consumer tastes. Checks have shown that the firm produces and sells products under more than 400 brand names worldwide, with 2 billion people using them on any given day globally

“Across the global business, our R&D teams work on cutting-edge science with a consumer focus that we can quickly convert into commercially viable applications. R&D is also the place where we invent what the consumer needs and even where we invent what he doesn’t know he needs – or what he is dreaming of,” said Geneviève Berger, chief research and development officer, Unilever plc.

“R&D improves the quality and functionality of our products. It streamlines our manufacturing and distribution networks. It drives cost savings. In fact, across many areas of the business, it is absolutely critical,” she said.