Rural Growth Moderated Second Quarter, HUL CMD Sanjiv Mehta.

According to Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman of Hindustan Unilever, consumer demand in rural India has reached a bottom as the pandemic's second wave fades. Rural demand has been high in recent quarters as a result of government initiatives such as food subsidies, MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), and the direct benefit transfer plan. Rural centers are still growing, albeit at a slower rate as mobility improves and metropolitan markets expand. Hindustan Unilever's net profit grew 8.9 percent year on year to Rs 2,187 crore in the three months ending September.

Revenue from operations climbed by 11.2 percent to Rs 12,724 crore. The company's home care division increased by 15%, thanks to double-digit growth in fabric washes. It also performed well in the categories of beauty and personal care, as well as meals and refreshments. Certain commodities, such as Palm Oil, Crude-based derivatives, and Ocean Freight, have seen very high inflation. Hindustan Unilever is cautiously optimistic about the next few quarters. "With the recent high rate of immunization, we hope that as a nation, we can avoid any delays," said Ritesh Tiwari, Chief Financial Officer.