Despite myriad negative factors, Unilever Thai Trading, one of the country's leading consumer product companies, is committed to continuing investment in Thailand.
Robert Candelino, the company's chief executive for inland Asean, said while the company has been simultaneously confronted with five crises during the pandemic -- an economic slowdown, rising unemployment, political instability, environmental problems and mental stress -- it continues to invest in product innovation. Unilever is allocating media spending and launching many new products in the home care, beauty and personal care segments as well as food and refreshment products that fit consumer demand during the outbreak.
The company has resumed marketing some products such as Viennetta ice cream to serve families. Lifebuoy, an antibacterial soap, was also re-introduced to the Thai market for the first time in the past three decades to cater to consumers who are more concerned about hygiene. The company has reduced its product prices to make its products more reachable and it has also offered financial liquidity to its business partners by extending credit terms.
With the pandemic expected to be prolonged until next year, the company will also beef up its hygiene product categories, with plans to launch more plant-based products to the market such as vegan ice cream.
"With 23 years working for Unilever in Canada, London, New York and Thailand, we have never been tested this much. Uncertainty is challenging but with clear business purpose and flexible working, our sales this year are likely to grow ahead of industry growth," Mr Candelino said.
In addition to products, Mr Candelino said the company will also accelerate its sustainability commitment.
"While many challenges persist, the health of the planet is at stake and remains a threat to all mankind. Unilever has a new range of measures and commitments designed to fight climate change and regenerate nature for future generations," he said.
By 2023, its products have to be deforestation-free. By 2030, Unilever aims to eliminate its use of fossil fuels in cleaning products and move to renewable or recycled carbon.
Unilever will also transform the global food system by halving food waste in its direct global operations from factory to shelf, double the number of products delivering positive nutrition globally and continue to lower calories, salt and sugar levels across products through the 'Future Foods' ambition by 2025.
In Thailand, Unilever is the first fast-moving consumer goods maker to use locally sourced post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging.
"We have created local demand by using up to 4,000 tonnes of PCR. Many of our brands including Sunlight, Comfort, Sunsilk and Dove, are using PCR bottles. This will create the infrastructure for segregation and collection to keep plastic waste in the loop. The company has saved 1,400 tonnes of plastic use and replaced plastic packaging with paper cups in Walls's cup, reducing plastic waste by 200 tonnes per year," he said.