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Executive column: Unilever Indonesia expects FMCG to rebound in second half of 2021
We are optimistic for 2021, especially seeing that the market and the government is on the move. The first half of the year will be better than last year, but the industry will not be fully recovered yet. However, we see that recovery can happen in the second half of the year, especially if the vaccination process can take less than 18 months.
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Unilever Indonesia president director Ira Noviarti.
(-/Courtesy of Unilever Indonesia)
T
em>The COVID-19 outbreak that first hit the country in 2020 has brought about changes and disruptions that forced businesses to adapt, including those in the consumer goods industry.
Despite the challenges, consumer goods giant Unilever Indonesia predicts recovery is on the horizon. The Indonesian arm of the British firm recently announced leadership changes amid the pandemic.
The Jakarta Post’s Eisya A. Eloksari joined a limited media briefing with the newly appointed Unilever Indonesia president director Ira Noviarti on Jan. 27 to learn more about the company’s strategy to retain recovery and navigate the global health crisis, as well as her experience as the second-ever female president director in Unilever Indonesia’s 87-year history.
Question: As a newly appointed president director, what is your strategy for the company amid the COVID-19 outbreak?
Answer: I was appointed in November last year during the pandemic. By then, we already knew what to focus on. First, we made employees’ health and safety our priority. The number of infections is not going down and [mass] vaccination may take 12 to 18 months, so we want to make sure that we communicate this strategy clearly to our 6,000 workers.
Secondly, we want to serve our consumers consistently. The global pandemic has made the supply chain move slower and we want to make sure that our 2,500 trucks can continue delivering goods from our warehouses.
Lastly, we want to play a bigger role in helping the government implement health protocols and distribute vaccines. I think government and private collaboration is very important during this time.
