Port Sunlight Set to Become Hub for Unilever's Fragrance Development with £80m Investment
Unilever, the global consumer goods giant, has announced a significant £80 million investment to establish a state-of-the-art fragrance facility in Port Sunlight, near Liverpool. This move is part of a broader £300 million investment in the UK over the next two years, aimed at bolstering the company's research and development capabilities. The new facility is expected to play a pivotal role in Unilever's strategy to develop in-house fragrance expertise, leveraging cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to innovate and streamline fragrance development.
The Port Sunlight facility will house a fragrance research and innovation laboratory, a compounding facility for blending new fragrances, and evaluation suites for product testing. By integrating digital technologies, Unilever aims to enhance its fragrance development process, enabling real-time data capture and analysis. This digital approach is anticipated to accelerate the creation of new fragrances, ensuring that Unilever remains at the forefront of the competitive consumer goods market.
Richard Slater, Unilever's Chief Research and Development Officer, highlighted the importance of this investment in reinforcing the company's global fragrance business. The facility will not only serve as a center for innovation but also as a talent hub, attracting perfumers and technologists from around the world. This initiative underscores Unilever's commitment to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to deliver superior products to consumers worldwide.
Subject to planning permission, the new fragrance facility will be located adjacent to Unilever's existing research and development sites in Port Sunlight, creating a cohesive ecosystem for innovation. This strategic investment reflects Unilever's dedication to sustainability and efficiency, as it seeks to redefine the future of fragrance development in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. With this project, Unilever is set to strengthen its position as a leader in the global fragrance market, driving growth and innovation from its historic base in the UK.
