HUL signs JV with S Africa's Smollan Holdings

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) today said it will set up a joint venture with Smollan Holdings of South Africa to service its retail customers.

The venture, Hindustan Unilever Field Services Pvt Ltd, will be operational from Januaray 1, 2008 and cover logistics, merchandise material and in-store services for retailers who buy Unilever products.

The strategic tie-up aims to build long term capabilities and bring 'in-store' execution focus in servicing the company's modern trade customers.

''Modern trade in India is growing and evolving very rapidly and our strategy is to win at point-of-purchase with our shoppers,'' company's Executive Director for sales and customer development Sanjiv Kakkar said in a statement.

Smollan Holdings is a leading 'in-store execution and field services' companies internationally and has leading edge capabilities in servicing Modern Trade focused on shelf filling, logistics for merchandising materials and in store execution.

UNI