Unilever to axe R&D units in Europe to 6 from 64
Unilever is cutting its research and development centres in Europe from 64 sites all over Europe to just six centres of excellence, in order to provide the focus and critical mass for its delivery of innovations and new products in foods.
By Sudeshna Sen, TNN |
LONDON: Unilever is cutting its research and development centres in Europe from 64 sites all over Europe to just six centres of excellence, in order to provide the focus and critical mass for its delivery of innovations and new products in foods.
The move is part of the consumer goods company’s One Unilever programme. The move will see about 240 job losses, and another 260 additional jobs will be relocated across Europe.
The new look centres of excellence will focus on new product development and innovations for both the European and global market. They will also have consolidated country and factory teams for local adaptation and the implementation of foods innovations for the global market.
These centres, to be based in Germany, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, France and UK, are to establish a world-class technical capability that can be applied across the categories, for global, regional and local innovations. In addition, local adaptation and implementation of foods innovations will be ensured through consolidated country and factory teams.
The reorganisation follows a science and technology review at Unilever, led by president, foods, Vindi Banga. “The review showed that we have great people and strong capabilities. However, it also showed that by organising ourselves so that we could leverage our scale and play to our strengths we could improve our market competitiveness. By getting the benefits of focus and synergies I am convinced that today’s announcement will make a significant difference to global market."
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