Unilever Philippines

Unilever Philippines, Inc. is the Philippine operating subsidiary of Unilever, the British multinational consumer-goods group. The company manufactures, imports, markets, and supervises Unilever brands for the Philippine market. Its portfolio covers household cleaning, laundry, personal care, oral care, skin care, deodorants, hair care, foods, and related consumer products. Brands associated with its Philippine operations include Surf, Breeze, Clear, Close-Up, Cream Silk, Dove, Knorr, Pepsodent, Pond's, Rexona, Sunsilk, Vaseline, and other local and international offerings. The business began in 1927 under the name Philippine Refining Company, or PRC. Its original activity was oil milling, with coconut oil becoming a major part of its industrial base. At its peak, the operation produced nearly 100,000 tons of coconut oil annually, according to the company's Wikipedia account. It subsequently expanded beyond raw-material processing into branded and packaged consumer products. Margarine production was added during the 1930s, while non-soap detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste became important areas during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, the company adopted sulphonation technology and added a cogeneration power plant, supporting the large-scale production of detergents and other products. The company also developed an environmental focus during the 1990s. One cited initiative was the introduction of what was described as the Philippines' first fully biodegradable detergent bar. This period coincided with efforts to improve manufacturing and environmental performance while maintaining the scale required for mass-market distribution. Unilever Philippines has continued to combine local production with imports from other Unilever operations in nearby countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, to meet Philippine demand. Its corporate identity changed as the company became more explicitly associated with the global Unilever organization. In 1993, Philippine Refining Company was formally renamed Unilever Philippines (PRC), Inc. and introduced a new visual identity. The logo moved to Unilever blue in 1994, was replaced by the large U-style identity used by other Unilever divisions in 1997, and adopted the present Unilever corporate mark in July 2004. The latter logo was developed by Wolff Olins and uses multiple icons arranged into a U shape. Unilever Philippines has also maintained a visible connection between corporate identity and consumer marketing. From 1998 to 2009, television commercials for many of its brands commonly ended with a corporate sign-off and the words “From Unilever.” Later executions placed the Unilever logo on screen using changing animation styles. These practices helped associate individual Philippine brands with the wider Unilever group while leaving product-level advertising focused on local consumer needs. The company has been based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, since 2016. It employs more than 1,000 people nationally according to the referenced Wikipedia material. Other Unilever-related Philippine entities include Unilever RFM Ice Cream, Inc., formerly Selecta Walls, Inc., and California Manufacturing Company, Inc., associated with Unilever Bestfoods. In 2023, Fredy Ong became chairman and chief executive officer, succeeding Benjie Yap. Unilever Philippines remains an active participant in the Philippine fast-moving consumer-goods market, although its local business is connected to the broader portfolio, supply chain, ownership structure, and strategic priorities of Unilever plc.

Unilever Philippines traces its corporate history to the establishment of Philippine Refining Company in 1927. The original business was an oil-milling operation, reflecting the importance of coconut production and processing to the Philippine economy. Coconut oil became a central industrial output, and the company reportedly reached annual production of nearly 100,000 tons at its peak. Its early identity was therefore rooted in processing and manufacturing rather than in the broad personal-care and household-brand portfolio associated with the business today. The company diversified during the 1930s by entering margarine production. This marked an early move from commodity processing into branded food and household consumption. Further diversification followed in the 1960s and 1970s, when the business developed non-soap detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste. These categories connected the Philippine operation more closely to the international Unilever model, which combined large-scale manufacturing with nationally distributed consumer brands. During the 1980s, Philippine Refining Company added sulphonation technology and a cogeneration power plant. Sulphonation was significant for detergent manufacturing, while cogeneration supported industrial energy requirements. The investments reflected the company's effort to develop manufacturing capabilities suited to high-volume production. In the 1990s, the company also highlighted environmental improvements, including the introduction of a detergent bar described in the reference material as the first 100% biodegradable detergent bar in the Philippines. The corporate relationship with Unilever became more visible in the 1990s. In 1993, the company formally changed its name from Philippine Refining Company to Unilever Philippines (PRC), Inc. The accompanying identity used a gold-and-platinum emblem and a silver triangle, and the relaunch was associated with the “Total Quality” tagline. In 1994, the visual identity moved to Unilever blue. In 1997, the company adopted the large U-style logo used by other Unilever operations, retaining the Total Quality positioning. The current Unilever corporate logo, designed by Wolff Olins, began to be used in July 2004. Corporate branding also became part of the company's advertising system. From 1998 through 2009, many television commercials for Unilever brands ended with a corporate sign-off identifying the products as coming “From Unilever.” Beginning in the mid-2000s, the logo was also displayed in different animated forms at the end of advertisements. These executions gave locally marketed brands a common corporate endorsement while allowing individual products to retain distinct consumer propositions. The modern Philippine operation combines local production with regional sourcing. It manufactures and supervises brands in categories including laundry, household cleaning, personal care, oral care, skin care, hair care, deodorants, and food. It also imports products from Unilever operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam when regional supply is needed. The broader Philippine Unilever presence includes related entities such as Unilever RFM Ice Cream, Inc., formerly Selecta Walls, Inc., and California Manufacturing Company, Inc., associated with Unilever Bestfoods. Since 2016, Unilever Philippines has been based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The supplied reference describes a workforce of more than 1,000 employees nationally and identifies the company as an important mass-market manufacturer and distributor. In 2023, Fredy Ong became chairman and chief executive officer, replacing Benjie Yap. The company remains active as part of Unilever plc, with its Philippine business shaped by local manufacturing, regional imports, brand management, and the parent group's international portfolio.

• 2023

  Fredy Ong became chairman and chief executive officer

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  Fredy Ong replaced Benjie Yap as chairman and chief executive officer.

• 2016

  Headquarters moved to Bonifacio Global City

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The Philippine operation has been based in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, since 2016.

• 2004

  The current Unilever corporate logo entered use

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company began using Unilever's present icon-based corporate logo, designed by Wolff Olins, in July 2004.

• 1997

  The large Unilever U logo was adopted

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company began using the large U-style identity used by other Unilever divisions.

• 1994

  The corporate identity moved to Unilever blue

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its logo colors to Unilever blue to emphasize its membership in the Unilever group.

• 1993

  The company adopted the Unilever Philippines name

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  Philippine Refining Company was formally renamed Unilever Philippines (PRC), Inc. and introduced a revised corporate identity.

• 1980

  Sulphonation and cogeneration capabilities were introduced

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s, the company added sulphonation technology and a cogeneration power plant to support industrial manufacturing.

• 1960

  Expansion into detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered additional consumer-product categories during the 1960s and 1970s, including non-soap detergents, shampoos, and toothpaste.

• 1930

  Margarine production was added

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1930s, the business expanded beyond oil milling into margarine production.

• 1927

  Philippine Refining Company was established

  [1]Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org

  The company was founded as Philippine Refining Company and began as an oil-milling business.

A mass-market consumer-goods business serving Philippine households through a combination of local manufacturing, regional imports, and a wide portfolio of Unilever personal-care, home-care, food, and hygiene brands.

• Laundry care

  Surf

  A Unilever laundry-care brand listed among the Philippine operation's principal offerings. It represents the company's mass-market focus in detergents and household cleaning products.

• Laundry care

  Breeze

  A laundry detergent brand marketed through Unilever Philippines. It sits within the company's household-cleaning portfolio alongside Surf and other detergent products.

• Personal care

  Dove

  A personal-care brand in the Philippine Unilever portfolio, associated with skin cleansing and broader beauty and care products.

• Hair care

  Clear

  A hair-care brand listed among the Philippine operation's brands, particularly associated with shampoo products.

• Oral care

  Close-Up

  An oral-care brand marketed in the Philippines as part of Unilever's toothpaste and dental-hygiene portfolio.

• Hair care

  Cream Silk

  A hair-care brand in the Philippine portfolio, associated with hair-conditioning and related care products.

• Food and seasoning

  Knorr

  A food brand sold through the Philippine Unilever business, representing its cooking, seasoning, and prepared-food activities.

• Oral care

  Pepsodent

  An oral-care brand listed among Unilever Philippines' current brands and associated with toothpaste and dental-care products.

• Skin care

  Pond's

  A skin-care brand in the Philippine portfolio, covering consumer facial and skin-care products.

• Deodorants

  Rexona

  A deodorant and personal-hygiene brand marketed by Unilever Philippines.

• Hair care

  Sunsilk

  A hair-care brand included in the Philippine Unilever portfolio and associated with shampoo and hair-treatment products.

• Skin care

  Vaseline

  A skin-care brand distributed through Unilever Philippines, covering moisturizing and body-care products.

• Skin care · 2023

  Block & Glow

  A Philippine brand formerly known as Block & White. The reference listing identifies the current name as Block & Glow after a later renaming.

• Water purification

  Unilever Pureit

  A water-purification offering listed among the current Philippine Unilever brands.

• Environmental pollution criticism

  The supplied Wikipedia material describes Unilever Philippines as the largest polluter in the Philippines. It does not provide enough detail to identify the underlying study, date, pollutants, or quantified responsibility.

  Source

Read more

• 1998From Unilever corporate sign-off

  Philippines

  From 1998 to 2009, television advertisements for many Unilever brands commonly ended with a corporate logo and a voiceover identifying the products as coming from Unilever.

  Outcome. The sign-off provided a consistent corporate endorsement across the company's Philippine brand advertising.

  Source

• 2023

  Block & White was renamed Block & GlowOther

  Background

  The Philippine brand portfolio included Block & White, a brand acquired from Sara Lee Philippines in 2010.

  Action taken

  The brand was listed under the name Block & Glow.

  Aftermath

  Block & Glow remained identified as a current brand in the supplied portfolio material.

  Source

• 2004

  Adoption of the current Unilever corporate logoStrategy

  Background

  Unilever was standardizing its corporate presentation across international divisions.

  Action taken

  Unilever Philippines began using the icon-based corporate logo designed by Wolff Olins in July 2004.

  Aftermath

  The logo became the principal corporate identifier used across the Unilever organization and its brand communications.

  Source

• 1993

  Formal adoption of the Unilever Philippines identityStrategy

  Background

  The former Philippine Refining Company was increasingly operating as part of the global Unilever group.

  Action taken

  The company changed its formal name to Unilever Philippines (PRC), Inc. and introduced a new corporate identity.

  Aftermath

  The change was followed by further logo updates that progressively aligned the Philippine operation with Unilever's global identity.

  Source

1. 1Unilever Philippinesen.wikipedia.org