Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has decided to divide its food and refreshments business into two separate businesses.
India's largest consumer goods firm said that the change is in alignment with the category structure of Unilever globally.
The company has included Sudhir Sitapati , who is currently the regional category vice president, Refreshments (South Asia & Africa),Unilever, as a member of its management committee of HUL appointing him as the executive director for its Refreshments division.
Geetu Verma, currently executive director for Foods & Refreshments will continue to head its business and will continue as a member of the management committee of HUL.
HUL said: "Both the businesses have registered strong growth under Geetu's able leadership and have now reached significant scale.
"The reorganization into two separate businesses will enable sharper focus and help to fully leverage the growth opportunities in line with HUL's ambitions."
In a similar move in August 2014, the manufacturer of Dove soaps, Rin detergents and Knorr soup had split its home and personal care portfolio into two separate divisions and appointed new executive directors for each, Mint reported.
HUL's beverage business includes tea brands like Lipton, Taj Mahal, Red Label and coffee brand Bru. Its food business includes Knorr soup, Kissan jams and ketchup, Annapurna atta and salt. It also sells ice creams under Kwality Walls brand.
The company witnessed 7% growth in its revenue from beverages segment to Rs 38.8bn for the fiscal year ending 31 March, helped by a double-digit growth in revenue from Lipton ice tea and Bru coffee. Its foods segment recorded a growth of 12% to Rs21.1bn for the year.
