unilever exits russian market after 25 years russia's all-out war ukraine unilevercom

Unilever exits Russian market after 2.5 years of Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine

October 10, 2024

By Ukraine

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Unilever, the global consumer goods giant, has announced the completion of its Russian subsidiary sale to Arnest Group, a local manufacturer of perfume, cosmetics, and household products.

This move marks the end of Unilever’s presence in Russia after 2.5 years of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Most Western companies stopped doing business in Russia much earlier, during the first or second year of the all-out war.

Hein Schumacher, CEO of Unilever, stated on 10 October in the company’s press release,

“Unilever has today completed the sale of its Russian subsidiary to Arnest Group. The sale includes all of Unilever’s business in Russia and its four factories in the country. Our business in Belarus is also included in the sale.”

The deal encompasses well-known brands such as Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, and Rexona. Schumacher described the preparation for the sale as “very complex,” involving the separation of IT platforms and supply chains, as well as the migration of brands to Cyrillic.

The terms of the deal with Arnest Group have not been disclosed, according to Unilever’s press release.

Long exit

Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Unilever had promised to suspend all imports and exports of its products to and from Russia, as well as cease all media and advertising expenditures. However, the company continued to operate in Russia, paying taxes and indirectly supporting the war against Ukraine.

As a result, in July 2023, Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) added Unilever to its symbolic list of international sponsors of the war. It wasn’t until early September 2024 that Unilever announced its intention to sell its business in Russia.

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