CONSUMER BUYING BEHAVIOUR

The consumer buying behavior varies from consumer to consumer. Some consumers are involved in extensive bargaining and are price conscious. Some are leisure driven shoppers. While others are recreational shoppers and they search for recreation and experience. Some others fall in the hedonism domain of shopping i.e. the product image significantly influenced the price consumers were willing to pay for the product. Hence, the common categories of shoppers are the price consciousness, hedonism and price quality. Apart from these there are fashion conscious, bargain conscious, brand loyal and non-brand loyal customers. Due to fierce competition, the rising costs of attracting new customers, most firms endeavor to retain existing customers. Since all companies depend on repeat business, there is growing need for a greater understanding of the factors determining customers loyalty. In case of repeat purchases of low-involvement products, the customers have neither the time, the resources nor the motivation to engage in a complex decision-making process or Extended Problem Solving (EPS) processes and so they usually engage in the process of habitual buying.

Factors Influencing Buying Behaviour

Marketing Stimuli Product Price Promotion Place Other Stimuli Economical Technological Political Cultural Buyer Characteristics Cultural Factors Social Factors Personal Factors Psychological Factors Purchase Decision Post Purchase Behaviour Buyer Decision Process Problem Recognition Information Search Evaluation of Alternatives

Buyer Decision Product Choice Brand Choice Dealer Choice Purchase Timing Purchase Amount

This figure explains some of the factors which influence habitual buying behavior. Consumers buying behavior is influenced by cultural, social, personal and psychological factors.

Cultural Factors
Culture is the most fundamental determinant of persons wants and desires. Subculture includes nationality religion, racial group and the geographic region. Social Class is the homogeneous and hierarchically ordered members of the interest and behavior.

Social Factors
Reference Groups consist of all the groups that have a direct or indirect influence on a persons attitudes and behavior Primary groups such as friends, family, neighbors and co-workers have a regular interaction, which is informal in nature. Family members constitute the most influential primary reference group. Secondary groups such as religious, professionals and trade union groups tend to be more formal and require less continuous interaction.

Personal Factors
Age and stage in the life cycle: Family life cycle Psychological life cycle, divorce, widowhood, remarriage Occupation and economic circumstances

Lifestyle Lifestyle is defined as a persons pattern of living in the world as expressed in activities, interest and opinions Psychographics is the science of measuring and categorizing consumer lifestyles. VALS is the most popular classification based on psychographic elements

Personality is the distinguishing psychological characteristics of a person that lead to relatively consistent and enduring responses to environment.

Self-concept is how he views himself. Ideal self-concept is how he would like to view himself and others self-concept is how he thinks others see him.

Psychological Factors
Motivation: There are different types of motivational needs for a person: Biogenic which arise from physiological states of tension such as hunger, thirst and discomfort Psychogenic which arise from psychological states of tension such as need for recognition, esteem or belongings. A need becomes a motive when it is aroused to a sufficient level of intensity. A motive is a need that is sufficiency pressing to drive the person to act.

Perception is the process by which an individual selects, organizes and interprets information to create a meaningful picture of the world. How a motivated person actually acts is influenced by his perception of the situation. Learning involves changes in an individuals behavior arising from experience.

Chemistry of shampoos People expect a lot from shampoos. Unfortunately, it is not easy to tell a good shampoo from a poor one. Cost, fragrance, and lots of foam is what most people look for in shampoo products. Lather and foam is of little importance , but they often get the most attention. Foaming occurs when surfactant molecules gather around air instead of oil. The result is millions of tiny bubbles. Obviously, the air bubbles are using the surfactants that should be removing dirt and oil. We have all seen shampoo advertisements showing happy, beautiful people taking showers with their heads heaped high with mounds of lather. These images have taught the public to associate lather with cleansing ability. The truth is, lots of foamy lather only means too much shampoo was used. Excess foam equals waste. Sebum and other oils quickly destroy foam. Ideally, the head should have just enough lather to lubricate the scalp and hair. This will help your fingers massage the shampoo more effectively into the hair. Fragrances and foaming qualities are not good ways to evaluate shampoos. Examine the hair's condition after several uses. Is it flyaway, is it hard to comb, does it seem limp, do colors fade, is the hair dry or the scalp itchy? Carefully choose the shampoo to use and recommend. The quality of your services and the success of your repeat business may depend on the decision of product choice

Surfactant Functions in Shampoo Surfactants will influence six essential attributes of shampoo: cleansing, foam, condition, viscosity and aesthetic appeal combined with safety and mildness in use. Cleansing: Cleansing is a function of the primary surfactant. To be an effective cleansing agent the surfactant system must work quickly at a relatively low temperature. It must also be effective in hard and

soft water, be able to remove lipids and other soils and residue left after previous hair treatments and it must not leave any residues of its own. It must be non-toxic and reasonably non-irritant to skin and eyes. Foam: Foam is also a function of the primary surfactant. The main ingredients used for this purpose for decades are ALS and SLES. Conditioning: There are many ways of improving hair conditions. SLES and other anionic surfactants leave the hair feeling dry and difficult to manage. The introduction of a suitable secondary surfactant reduces this. Viscosity: Products must have sufficient viscosity to stay on the palm of the hand prior to application but must not come out of the bottle as a lump. Anionic systems may be thickened by the addition of electrolytes or non-ionic compounds or by betaines. Aesthetic Appeal: Although color, odor and pretty pictures on the label are essential factors for aesthetic appeal, the products appearance is also important. It must be opaque or clear. Clarity requires the complete solubility of all ingredients. Safety and Mildness: These are essential attributes of a hair care product that may be used every day and which can come into contact with the skin and eyes. Alkyl Sulfates and alky ether sulfates are aggressive surfactants that can irritate eyes and scalp and cause skin dryness. I hope this information has given you a better understanding of the inter-workings of hair care shampoo. I will leave the answer of whether it's

shampoo or a chemical cocktail up to you. One fact is certain, there are an awful lot of chemicals in that shampoo bottle in your bathroom.

The shampoo market in India is estimated to be ` 2,500-3,000 crore. The shampoo market is India is categorized according to the benefits they provide. Mostly consisting of three kinds of shampoos cosmetic, herbal and anti dandruff, the shampoo market in India has managed to tap users of the various segments according to their requirements and preferences. Due to the continuous efforts of the top shampoo brands in India penetration of shampoos in urban areas is almost 100%. As far as penetration of shampoo in the rural areas is concerned it has risen by almost 18% in the current scenario. The top shampoo brands in India include Sunsilk, Clinic Plus, Dove and Pantene. The company that leads the shampoo market in India is Hindustan Unilever Limited. The top three most sought after brands Sunsilk, Dove and Clinic are produced by HUL. The company holds a 44% market share in the Indian shampoo industry. It is said that HUL earns almost 8% of its revenue from the sale of these products The other recent brand that has taken the Indian personal care industry by storm is Pantene. Since its very inception the brand was a best seller. A product of FMCG giants Proctor and Gamble Pantene has slowly and steadily managed to capture quite a large amount of the Indian market. Proctor and Gamble the second top shampoo brand in India holds a market share of around 25% in the Indian shampoo industry. The revenue earned from the ale of shampoos from Proctor and gamble is almost 17%. Together these two major players constitute a major part of the Indian shampoo industry. Both these players with their numerous brands dominating the Indian shampoo market are continuously trying to outdo one another by introducing different marketing schemes. Be it in the form of price cuts, discounts or increasing the size of the shampoo sachets without any extra costs these two to shampoo producing companies are at a continuous price war. Top Shampoo Brands in India

Sunsilk Clinic Plus Pantene Head & Shoulders Garnier Fructis

The History of Shampoo A Culmination of Personal Cleanliness

In modern society, the practice of good personal hygiene is usually a minimum expectation instilled within children from the earliest possible moment. Most civilized societies demand it, even take it for granted. But the history of shampoo, or the product used specifically for shampooing of the hair, is confined to about a century of very recent development. Before innovations in shampooing, the hair was maintained with a combination of soap, perfumes, and essential oils, none of which provided the quality of cleanliness and luster of a modern shampoo, because it took innovations in modern science to truly understand the composition of hair soil in order to develop cleansing formulas to combat it. The history of human hygiene, however, emerges with the dawn of civilization, when humans perceived themselves as distinctly different from other creatures. In a way, the science of shampoo is one among many milestones of achievement in personal hygiene, a pinnacle of cleanliness. A General History of Personal Cleanliness In the bursts of human development beginning about 5000 B.C., early civilization began to arrange itself around agricultural and urban centers. By as early as 4000 B.C., Virginia Smith suggests, a cosmetic routine emerged during the Eurasian Bronze Age wherein beauty was managed through a system of pampering, from bathhouses to hairstyling. Smith identifies her history of clean as one of ellu, the ancient Mesopotamian word meaning a type of glittering, strikingly luminescent, or beautiful cleanliness (2007). But while surely most of the pampering rituals were reserved solely for the upper echelon of society (something which remained true throughout much of history), the broad acceptance of personal cleanliness had become an established feature of society by about 3000 B.C., because the emerging sense of human society came to believe that the extra polish or finish given by their grooming and adornments separated them from all other animals (ibid). In the ancient world, Egypt was the center of a thriving cosmetic trade, and early cosmetic scientists learned to exploit virtually every known natural resource for its purpose, from local raw materials to harvested domesticated products, such as lotus flowers for essential oils. Like today, the ancient cosmetic toilette used pumice stone as an exfoliator, and the natural sponges found in warm seas [were] used for sluicing the body (Smith 2007). Beauty was itself a deeply revered attribute. The ancient Greek word kosmos meant to order, to arrange, or to adorn while its derivative, the antecedent to the English cosmetics, was kosmetikos, which meant having the power to beautify and was a quality attributed of the high priestess who maintained the beauty of the temple. The beauty ritual was also prominent in the Babylonian courts in the third millennium B.C., where archaeological evidence of a palace shows multiple bathrooms complete with clean, running water. In addition, evidence of soap said to have been made from animal fats boiled with ashes has been found in clay jars, though it is unclear precisely what the soap was used for (Naiman 2004). Evidence of more widespread personal hygiene can be found later in the classical Greek period. The Greek emphasis on the purity of clean water and personal cleanliness

would be further standardized by the Romans, whose bathhouses and aqueducts remain famous examples of technological innovation in the ancient word designed to improve the quality of life, perhaps most importantly for reasons related to ones personal health, hygiene, and cosmetic appearance. Bathers still commonly used abrasive surfaces such as pumice to scrape away soil, and they followed that with perfumed oils and lotions, though recommendations by the second-century physician Galen in such texts as De Sanitate Tuenda (On the Healthy Life) began pointing to soap products as beneficial to personal hygiene (Smith 2007). But even among royalty, where hair was styled and perfumed, if soap was used in the hair it could not have impressed its users. Besides being irritating to the eyes, most standard soap was ineffective in properly cleansing the hair. Soap was difficult to wash out and left behind a dull film. Good shampoo, let alone the word itself, was still centuries away. From popular culture, it is easy to dismiss the concept of personal cleanliness in the Middle Ages. Indeed, Virginia Smith identifies an ascetic basis for the era following the fall of the Roman Empire that suggests a reason for such a belief: the Judeo-Christian ethic emphasized the purity of the soul and, hence, inner cleanliness took a privileged position over the outer body. But even as waterways such as the Roman aqueducts were either destroyed in war or fell into disrepair, communal bathhouses remained a vestige of many urban centers throughout the Middle Ages, despite the long-standing edict of A.D. 745 by Pope Boniface that forbade unisex bathing facilities. Eventually, however, as bathhouses became houses of ill-repute in growing urban centers and as disease, particularly syphilis, became widespread (largely related to the bawdy undercurrent of the public bathhouse), most closed with approval from religious leaders in the constantly changing political climate. It seems clear, though, that where opportunity for maintaining ones personal cleanliness existed, people took advantage of it. In some circumstances, however, opportunities for accomplishing ones personal cleanliness may have been fewer, and activities such as delousing ones hair may have been one of the few still-available practices. Nevertheless, the countdown to modernity that began in the seventeenth century had begun, and gradually the present-day hallmarks of safe, convenient, and civil methods of personal hygiene began to emerge (Smith 2007). The Therapeutic Massage of Dean Mahomet Bathhouses had made their triumphant return long before Dean Mahomet arrived in London. A native of the Bengal region of India under the rule of the English East India Company, Mahomet entered into the service of the English Companys army at an early age before going on to travel in Ireland and England. Mahomet documented his journey in his Travels, the first book written in English by an Indian. Published in 1794, Travels was an epistolary text, or a series of letters supposedly composed to a friend during his time abroad. In one letter, Mahomet acquaints his reader with the technique of Indian therapeutic massage that includes the practice of champing, which is derived from the Chinese. Mahomet quotes from the ancients, that a female masseuse/shampooer, with her agile art, runs over his body and spreads her skilled hands over all his limbs. In other words, a relative to modern massage therapy, the shampooer rubs [the clients] limbs, and cracks the joints of the wrist and fingers[which] supples the joints, but procures a brisker circulation to the fluids apt to stagnate, or loiter through the veins, from the

heat of the climate (Mahomet 1997). Upon arriving in London, Mahomets initial work was with the Honorable Basil Cochrane, who claimed to have drawn upon British inspiration to devise a kind of vapor bath cure (something in practice in Britains Indian colony) for use in improving the general health of lower-class Londoners. After a while, Mahomet accumulated some wealth and opened up his own Indianstyle public eating house. When he was forced to sell his interest in the shop, Mahomet returned to the bathhouses and, though in many cultures washer people are among the lowest classes, Mahomet battled against type and the constraints of the alien culture and rose to the challenge of carving out an identify for himself. Mahomet implemented Indian shampooing methods he had practiced under Cochrane and, alongside the traditionally vapor bath, he employed a broad range of new treatments that helped him become the preeminent practitioner of his trade, eventually becoming the shampooing surgeon to royalty (Mahomet 1997). The practice of shampooing (from the Hindi champi) via the Chinese was popular among the colonizing English in India, so it translated well to London, if only because the description portrayed young, skillful women practitioners with long fingers, and a satined skin. Ultimately, however, it was the idea of shampooing for health that made the practice so popular in medical circles, where the concept got taken up and redeployed for other uses within a few decades (Mahomet 1997). But soon the word shampoo was used specifically to describe hair and scalp massaging products, often made from soap boiled in soda water and mixed with herbs for fragrance and health benefits. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term shampoo was first recorded with respect to the meaning to wash ones hair in 1860 and as a noun meaning the soap used for shampooing the hair a few years later, in 1866. But hair care was still an uncomfortable burden, particularly for those with heavier, longer hair. Luckily for them, chemists began experimenting with solutions to this problem. Indeed, shampoo would become the realm of science, when the problem could be understood at a chemical level and the proper formulas could be developed to address the problem. Innovation in Hair Care At the turn of the century, when hair care was still a deeply troublesome practice, the industry was poised for a breakthrough. In 1898, the Berlin chemist Hans Schwarzkopf opened a drugstore with a section dedicated to perfume. When that part of his business proved especially successful, the chemist focused his efforts on developing new products for it--most importantly, products for the hair. According to the current company's Web site, Hans dislike[d] the expensive oils and harsh soaps used to wash hair, and [was] inspired to create a better solution. What Schwarzkopf developed was a water-soluble powder shampoo. Its ease of use made the product so popular that by the next year Schwarzkopf began to supply his powder shampoo to virtually every drugstore in Berlinand with an eye on the international market (Schwarzkopfprofessional.com). Despite the powdered shampoos convenience, the soap products it still contained caused undesirable alkaline reactions that dulled the hair. An article published in the New York Times in May 1908 outlines a number of simple rules on How to Shampoo the Hair. It is aimed specifically at women, claiming that every woman likes to have her hair not only daintily and becomingly arranged, but soft and glossy in appearance and texture[and] the shampoo is a necessary part of the treatment, whether the feat is to be achieved by oneself or with the help of ones maid or hairdresser. The article

explains hair is best shampooed at night, following a thorough combing and brushing of the hair, and then carefully singeing all split ends. After an olive oil-based Castile soap is applied with a stiff brush, the hair is rinsed four times, the latter rinses with cooler water to prevent the head from overheating and limit the potential for catching a cold. If it sounds like a difficult regimen to follow, it should be noted that in 1908, many hair specialists recommend the shampooing of the hair as often as every two weeks, but from a month to six weeks should be a better interval if the hair is in fairly good condition (emphasis added). In other words, the gradual build up of soils both natural and from the environment over the course of two or more weeks clearly necessitates the ritual, if only because less demanding hair care products were only just emerging. Indeed, the same year as the article hit newsstands, Dr. John Breck introduced one of the first shampoos to America before going on to develop one of the worlds first pH-balanced shampoos in 1930. Under Brecks reign, the business and products remained local, known only to his native New England. His son Edward took over management of the company in 1936 and soon partnered with illustrator Charles Sheldon, the artist responsible for creating the first pastel portraits of Breck girls. The campaign would become one of the longest running in American history as Sheldon created 107 total oil and pastel portraits, including that of seventeen-year old Roma Whitney, whose profile would become the registered trademark of the company in 1951. Additional portraits were created by Sheldons successor, Ralph William Williams, who employed professional models and helped lift the company to the peak of its success in the 1960s (Minnick 1998). Meanwhile, Hans Schwarzkopf continued to innovate in Europe, and in 1927 he not only introduced one of the worlds premiere liquid shampoos but also launched his international empire of hairdressing technique institutes. Descendant lines of the Schwarzkopf Institute for Hair Hygiene remain active around the world today, implementing new products and continually innovating in the industry of hair care, from the first nonalkaline shampoo in 1933 to perms, hair sprays, and mousses. In 1980, the company led the way in a major environmental concern by converting to CFC-free aerosol spray cans (Schwarzkopf-professional.com). Today it operates under the name of Schwarzkopft and Henkel and is headquartered in Dsseldorf, Germany. The Henkel brand is well known in the United States, responsible for such major brands as Dial and Right Guard. The worldwide network remains strong, and the company remains a leader in hair care innovation, the science of which continues to develop with our understanding of the science of hair itself. The Science of Shampoo The hair-specific composition of shampoo products is designed for the individuals desire to practice both good personal hygiene as well as the cosmetic ritual that addresses a concern for appearance (Wong 1997). The proper cleansing of hair must address the complexity of soil that builds up from a combination of airborne contaminants, hair care products and, most importantly, oily hair lipid and sebum secreted by glands in the skin. When this natural byproduct combines with external pollutants, they build up on the individual follicles of hair and the hair takes on an oily, slick appearance. The innovations in hair care in the past one hundred years focus on this issue by using materials that target the hair lipids through highly surfaceactive cleansing agents called surfactants to break down and distribute healthy natural oils while

washing away contaminants (Wong 1997). The composition of shampoo has been developed and marketed to specific types of hair since the early nineteenth century, but modern shampoos have achieved a pinnacle of performance and specificity. Though the primary attribute of a good shampoo is effective cleansing of the hair, shampoo manufacturers must address a wide array of needs, from conditioning and anti-dandruff formulas to specially styled and color-treated hair. There are also milder shampoos for babies and shampoos containing natural, often plant-derived ingredients to replace harsher chemicals (Wong 1997). Shampoo may be a late entry in the arena of personal hygiene, but our knowledge of cleanliness is one that remains under intense scrutiny by scientists as we adapt to battle the ever-changing world of dirt and filtha world that is now understood microscopically.

Introduction
Shampoo is personal hygiene product that is very essential in our daily needs. It feeds c o n s u m e r s p h ys i o l o g i c a l n e e d s a s i t c l e a n s t h e h a i r a n d p r o v i d e s o t h e r a d d i t i o n a l benefits such as conditioning, reducing dandruff, moisturizing, nourishing and etc. it is a multi-million ringgit industry that contributes largely in the annual GNP (Gross National Product) and GDP (Gross Domestic Product).There are countless brands in the market and only the famous ones are those that w e u s u a l l y h e a r o f . W h a t a b o u t l o c a l b r a n d s ? U s u a l l y , c o n s u m e r s p u r c h a s e b y recognizing the brand and sometimes ignore the fact about quality and price. Imported shampoos dominate the market and the aim of the research is to research on what are the f a c t o r s t h a t influences consumers behavior and on a smaller scale, c o n s u m e r s purchasing pattern and behavior. Local shampoo brands includes Shurah, Fair & Lovely, TLC (Tender, Loving, C a r e ) a n d s o f o r t h . E x a m p l e s o f i m p o r t e d s h a m p o o s s u c h a s S c h w a r z k o p f , R e d k e n , Pantene, Tracia, L Oreal are those we usually hear of because of its intensive advertising a n d p o p u l a r b r a n d n a m e . T h e s e i m p o r t e d s h a m p o o s h a v e t e r r o r i z e d t h e l o c a l m a r k e t scene and not many consumers can actually differentiate between local and imported ones. Shampoo is an industry that contributes annual income in millions of ringgit. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the reason consumers prefer certain types or brands of shampoo compared to others. The problem that arises is that consumers nowadays just simply cannot differentiate between imported shampoo brands and local brands . For those who are able to identify the difference, these consumers are using it based on its brand-name and thus do not put other important criteria into consideration. There are also consumers who purchase based on its value for money, quality, peer pressure and so forth. The intention to purchase shampoo is thus influenced by all these factors and it is important for researchers to discover the real or most influential factor that control consumer purchasing behavior

Proctor & Gamble India

Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is an American company based in Cincinnati, Ohio that manufactures a wide range of consumer goods. In India Proctor & Gamble has two subsidiaries: P&G Hygiene and Health Care Ltd. and P&G Home Products Ltd. P&G Hygiene and Health Care Limited is one of India's fastest growing Fast Moving Consumer Goods Companies with a turnover of more than Rs. 500 crores. It has in its portfolio famous brands like Vicks & Whisper. P&G Home Products Limited deals in Fabric Care segment and Hair Care segment. It has in its kitty global brands such as Ariel and Tide in the Fabric Care segment, and Head & Shoulders, Pantene, and Rejoice in the Hair Care segment. Procter & Gamble's relationship with India started in 1951 when Vicks Product Inc. India, a branch of Vicks Product Inc. USA entered Indian market. In 1964, a public limited company, Richardson Hindustan Limited (RHL) was formed which obtained an Industrial License to undertake manufacture of Menthol and de mentholised peppermint oil and VICKS range of products such as Vicks VapoRub, Vicks Cough Drops and Vicks Inhaler. In May 1967, RHL introduced Clearsil, then America's number one pimple cream in Indian market. In 1979, RHL launches Vicks Action 500 and in 1984 it set up an Ayurvedic Research Laboratory to address the common ailments of the people such as cough and cold. In October 1985, RHL became an affiliate of The Procter & Gamble Company, USA and its name was changed to Procter & Gamble India. In 1989, Procter & Gamble India launched Whisper - the breakthrough technology sanitary napkin. In 1991, P&G India launched Ariel detergent. In 1992, The Procter & Gamble Company, US increased its stake in Procter & Gamble India to 51% and then to 65%. In 1993, Procter & Gamble India divested the Detergents business to Procter & Gamble Home Products and started marketing Old Spice Brand of products. In 1999 Procter & Gamble India Limited changed the name of the Company to Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care Limited. P&G Home Products Limited was incorporated as 100% subsidiary of The Procter & Gamble Company, USA in 1993 and it launched launches Ariel Super Soaker. In the same year Procter & Gamble India divested the Detergents business to Procter & Gamble Home Products. In 1995, Procter & Gamble Home Products entered the Haircare Category with the launch of Pantene Pro-V shampoo. In 1997 Procter & Gamble Home Products launches Head & Shoulders shampoo. In 2000, Procter & Gamble Home Products introduced Tide Detergent Powder - the largest selling detergent in the world. In 2003, Procter & Gamble Home Products Limited launched Pampers - world's number one selling diaper brand.

Introduction to HUL
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company with a heritage of over 75 years in India and touches the lives of two out of three Indians.

HUL works to create a better future every day and helps people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. With over 35 brands spanning 20 distinct categories such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, skin care, toothpastes, deodorants, cosmetics, tea, coffee, packaged foods, ice cream, and water purifiers, the Company is a part of the everyday life of millions of consumers across India. Its portfolio includes leading household brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf Excel, Rin, Wheel, Fair & Lovely, Ponds, Vaseline, Lakm, Dove, Clinic Plus, Sunsilk, Pepsodent, Closeup, Axe, Brooke Bond, Bru, Knorr, Kissan, Kwality Walls and Pureit. The Company has over 16,000 employees and has an annual turnover of around Rs.19, 401 crores (financial year 2010 - 2011). HUL is a subsidiary of Unilever, one of the worlds leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe with annual sales of about 44 billion in 2011. Unilever has about 52% shareholding in HUL.