Unilever Pakistan

Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited
TypeSubsidiary
PSX: UPFL
IndustryFast-moving consumer goods
Founded1948 (1948) in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
Headquarters
Karachi
,
Pakistan
Key people
Amir R. Paracha (CEO)[1]
ProductsFoods
Beauty & Personal Products
Soap
Home Care
BrandsKnorr
Pond's
Sunsilk
Dove
Lux
Surf Excel
Revenue Rs. 3371 crore (US$120 million) (2024)
Rs. 1017 crore (US$36 million) (2024)
Total assets Rs. 2798 crore (US$100 million) (2024)
Total equity Rs. 1338 crore (US$48 million) (2024)
ParentUnilever
SubsidiariesUnilever Pakistan Foods Limited
Unilever Pakistan Limited
Websiteunilever.pk

Unilever Pakistan, formerly known as Lever Brothers Pakistan, is a Pakistani fast-moving consumer goods subsidiary of the British multinational company Unilever.[2] Based in Karachi, it operates two separate companies: Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited (UPFL), a publicly listed company for its food business, while Unilever Pakistan Limited (UPL), a privately-owned subsidiary which looks after beauty, well-being, personal care, and home care businesses.

History

1948–1980: Early history

Unilever Pakistan Limited was founded as Lever Brothers Pakistan Limited in 1948 to manufacture soap and edible oils.[3] The town of Rahim Yar Khan was chosen as the site of its first vegetable oil and soap factory, which began operations in the 1950s. In the mid-1960s, the head office was shifted from Rahim Yar Khan to Karachi.[4]

1980–2012: Listing and growth

In December 1980, Unilever Pakistan was listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange through an initial public offering.[5] The company expanded its operations in the late 1980s and 1990s through a series of mergers with other consumer goods companies, including Lipton Pakistan in 1989, a tie-up with Polka that brought it into ice cream manufacturing under the Wall's brand in 1995, and Brooke Bond Pakistan in 1997.[3]

In 2004, Unilever sold its vanaspati and edible oils business Dalda.[5] It accepted an offer of Rs. 1.33 billion for the sale of its Dalda brand and related business of edible oils and fats to the newly incorporated company Dalda Foods (Pvt.) Limited.[6]

In April 2007, Unilever's affiliate, Rafhan Best Foods Limited, was renamed Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited (UPFL).[7]

2012–present: Delisting, exits, and fines

On 27 November 2012, Unilever Overseas Holdings, the wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever plc that held just over 75% of Unilever Pakistan, announced a tender offer of Rs.9,700 per share to buy out the remaining 25% minority shareholders and delist the company from the Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad stock exchanges.[8] Following objections from institutional minority shareholders, including Singapore-based Arisaig Partners and Acacia Partners LP, the Karachi Stock Exchange's internal delisting committee recommended a price of Rs.15,000 per share, roughly 55% higher than Unilever's initial offer.[9][10] Unilever accepted the price in April 2013, in a buyback that cost the parent company approximately Rs.50 billion (around US$503 million).[11] Unilever Pakistan was formally delisted in 2013; however, Unilever Pakistan Foods continued to trade separately.[5][8]

In February 2020, Amir R. Paracha was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of both Unilever Pakistan Limited and Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited, succeeding Shazia Syed.[12]

In 2022, Unilever completed the sale of its tea business, which included the Lipton and Brooke Bond brands in Pakistan, to CVC Capital Partners for €4.5 billion. The business was subsequently renamed Lipton Teas and Infusions.[13][14] As part of the transition, Unilever Pakistan shut its tea research station in Mansehra and ended local commercialisation efforts.[14]

In August 2024, the Competition Commission of Pakistan imposed a Rs. 60 million fine on Unilever Pakistan for airing television commercials containing deceptive claims for its hygiene and cleansing products, ‘Lifebuoy Hand Wash’ and ‘Lifebuoy Soap’.[15] In December 2024, the CCP imposed a further Rs.75 million penalty on Unilever Pakistan, along with an additional Rs.20 million fine, for marketing its frozen desserts as ice cream in violation of food labelling standards.[16]

In July 2025, The Magnum Ice Cream Company became an independent subsidiary of Unilever by a demerger. Following the announcement in March 2024 to create a separate stand-alone business, the several major ice cream brands owned by Unilever, such as Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Cornetto and Wall's, were combined into The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a stand-alone company.[17]

Operations

Unilever Pakistan operates a network of company-owned and third-party manufacturing sites across the country, with factories in Rahim Yar Khan (personal care and beauty products) and near Lahore (foods), supplemented by third-party manufacturing sites including Futehally Chemicals Limited which produces Surf Excel detergent.[18][19]

Brands

Foods

Beauty, well-being, and personal care

Home care

  • Comfort – fabric softeners
  • Surf Excel – detergent and gentle wash.[4]
  • Domex
  • Vim

Former brands

References

  1. ^ "Unilever Pakistan announces change in leadership with new CEO's appointment". www.thenews.com.pk.
  2. ^ Hussain, Dilawar (19 May 2014). "Marketing in rural areas through 'Guddi Bajis'". DAWN.COM.
  3. ^ a b "UNILEVER PAKISTAN LIMITED - Analysis of Financial Statements Financial Year 2003 - Financial Year 2008". Brecorder. 7 April 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Profile of Unilever Pakistan Business Recorder, Published 30 November 2011, Retrieved 13 June 2021
  5. ^ a b c "Seven years after delisting, Unilever Pakistan is investing heavily in growth". Profit by Pakistan Today. 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ Dilawar Hussain (5 January 2008). "Dalda grabs Tullo in edible oil business". Dawn. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. ^ "US firm raises stake in Unilever Foods to 75.85pc". Dawn. 17 November 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Food and consumer goods: Unilever Pakistan to delist from local stock exchanges". The Express Tribune. 29 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Going private: For delisting, Unilever Pakistan faces a higher price". The Express Tribune. 27 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Share pricing in Unilever buy-back". Dawn. 25 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Unilever accepts delisting price set by KSE". The Express Tribune. 3 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Amir R. Paracha". Unilever Pakistan.
  13. ^ "Unilever sells tea arm, including Lipton, for 4.5bn euros". Business Recorder. 22 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b "$600m tea import bill exposes neglected commercialisation". The Express Tribune. 28 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Unilever fined Rs60m". DAWN. 10 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Unilever and Friesland fined for marketing their "frozen dessert" as ice-cream, what is the difference?". Profit by Pakistan Today. 20 December 2024.
  17. ^ Ackerman, Warren. "Why is Unilever spinning out its ice cream business?". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Inside our markets: Unilever's business in Pakistan". Unilever. 2023.
  19. ^ "Unilever Pakistan Champions Renewable Energy". Unilever Pakistan. 2023.
  20. ^ AFP (22 November 2021). "Unilever sells tea arm, including Lipton, for 4.5bn euros". Brecorder. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Demerger information". magnumicecreamcompany. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
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