Unilever, a global FMCG giant, is investing almost 90 million zlotys ($20.8m) in its food factory in Poznań, Poland to enhance the production of its popular ramen noodles brands. This investment aims to add a new production line dedicated to its Knorr, Unox, and Amino brands of noodles. The project includes the implementation of automation, enabling the plant to produce 600,000 packs of noodles daily for distribution in Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, and other selected European countries.
Poznań, which falls under Unilever’s nutrition business division, is one of the three factories the company has in Poland. Unilever also operates an operations center in Katowice and a site in Bydgoszcz producing home and personal-care products. Hanneke Faber, the president of the nutrition business unit, stated that this investment in Poznań will not only help the company meet the growing demands of the European market but also strengthen its position in the Polish food business.
Unilever has identified emerging markets as a key growth focus. In the first half of its latest fiscal year, underlying sales growth (USG) for emerging markets was 10.6%, surpassing the group rate of 9.1%. The global nutrition division also experienced a USG of 10.4%. The company’s overall worldwide turnover for the same period was €30.4bn ($32.6bn).
The addition of the new production line in Poznań will prioritize sustainability, with a focus on optimizing energy and water consumption. Przemysław Fejfer, the director of the factory, emphasized their commitment to effectively respond to customer needs and further develop the business.
In Ukraine, Unilever announced a separate investment of €20m in a new factory for personal-care products in Kiev Oblast. However, the company has faced criticism for its continued presence in Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It was added to Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP)’s “international sponsors of war” list in July, alongside other FMCG peers such as Mondelez International. Recently, PepsiCo and Mars were also added to this list.
The food and beverage industry trends continue to shape Unilever’s business strategy, driving investments like the one in Poznań. With a strong focus on growth in emerging markets and a commitment to sustainability, Unilever remains a key player in the global food and drink industry.
