Unilever’s state of the art manufacturing site in Dubai joins the World Economic Forum’s distinguished Global Lighthouse Network

The facility joins the Global Lighthouse Network, a platform which recognises manufacturing sites that are making radical leaps in the development and application of digital industrial technologies and advanced manufacturing methods, known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Unilever Dubai Personal Care site is the first manufacturing site in the United Arab Emirates and the first non-energy manufacturing site in the Middle East and North Africa region to join the network.

Unilever has embarked on a digital transformation programme across its global supply chain, and this accolade is testament to the entrepreneurial, winning spirit and agility of our people turning these ambitions into reality at the Dubai Personal Care site.

Mahmoud Abdel-Naby, Dubai Personal Care Plant Manager said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been recognised as a leader among over 1,000 production sites examined by the WEF. We join the Global Lighthouse Network thanks to the passion, dedication and agility of our people, who succeeded in building an integrated and unified factory operating system at remarkable speed. Our digital journey was made possible by the concerted efforts of our teams, who partnered internally and externally to co create disruptive in-house solutions to tackle cost, productivity and responsiveness.”

This transformation allowed the facility to unlock the potential of cloud-based analytics and better leverage the site’s integrated data lake. As a result, the site has not only become more environmentally sustainable by cutting energy and water wastage, but also achieved a significant reduction in costs thanks to improved equipment and operational efficiency.

About The Global Lighthouse Network

The Global Lighthouse Network is a World Economic Forum project in collaboration with McKinsey & Company. It serves as a platform to develop, replicate and scale up innovations, creating opportunities for cross-company learning and collaboration. Unilever joins 44 leaders in the network of manufacturers driving operational and environmental impact through their innovative processes and technologies.

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Safe Harbour

Where relevant, these actions are subject to the appropriate consultations and approvals.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including ’forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ’will’, ’aim’, ’expects’, ’anticipates’, ’intends’, ’looks’, ’believes’, ’vision’, or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Unilever Group (the ’Group’). They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.

Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Among other risks and uncertainties, the material or principal factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are: Unilever’s global brands not meeting consumer preferences; Unilever’s ability to innovate and remain competitive; Unilever’s investment choices in its portfolio management; inability to find sustainable solutions to support long-term growth; the effect of climate change on Unilever’s business; customer relationships; the recruitment and retention of talented employees; disruptions in our supply chain; the cost of raw materials and commodities; the production of safe and high quality products; secure and reliable IT infrastructure; successful execution of acquisitions, divestitures and business transformation projects; economic and political risks and natural disasters; financial risks; failure to meet high and ethical standards; and managing regulatory, tax and legal matters. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 and the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018.