Liril. Pears. Lux. Lifebuoy. Pepsodent. Close-Up. Rin. Sunlight. Wheel.... 

Before you think we’ve printed our grocery list here by mistake, let us let you in on a little historical secret. Situated just 40 minutes from central Calcutta is a factory that enjoys the distinction of having manufactured all these products. And that factory has just turned 100! 

t2 visited the Garden Reach Factory (GRF) of Hindustan Unilever recently to look back at the legacy of this “heritage factory”.

Nawabi antecedents

The factory premises, spread across 16 acres, is rich in history, not least because of this century-old facility. Garden Reach in Metiabruz was where Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, was exiled by the British in 1856. Local lore has it that this land used to host his soirees and house his stables. 

According to research conducted by the GRF team for their 100-year celebrations, between 1888 and 1905 British company Lever Brothers (which in India is now Hindustan Unilever Ltd or HUL) was importing its brands like Sunlight, Pears, Lifebuoy and Lux Flakes into India through the Calcutta port. 

In 1916, the Garden Reach Factory was started by the North West Soap Company. Though its production capacity was just over 2,000 tonnes annually, the quality was noteworthy, compared with local manufacturers. 

The original ‘Make in India’

With the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement in the early 20th century, Lever Brothers saw an opportunity to start manufacturing in India. Around 1920, North West Soap Company’s “modern” factory caught Lever Brothers’ eye. The company first took it on lease and then took over the soap manufacturing unit in 1934. Around 1939, GRF was officially purchased by Lever Brothers. 

Back then, GRF was only one of two Lever Brothers factories in India, the other being in Mumbai. Today, HUL has diversified its locations, with 40 owned factories. Being one of the first two factories in the company accorded GRF the privilege of producing an impressive array of home and personal wash products. 

Lux and Lifebuoy

GRF currently manufactures and packages Lux and Lifebuoy among personal wash brands and Sunlight and OK among laundry soaps. 

“Garden Reach is a strategic factory for Hindustan Unilever. It has a long and chequered history. Over the years, the leadership of HUL has, together with the employees of GRF, transformed this into a vibrant factory, which is competitive and produces quality products of Unilever in an absolutely safe manner. All of us are committed to ensure that this factory remains central to the growth story of the company,” Pradeep Banerjee, executive director, supply chain, HUL, told us over email. 

The next 100 years

While they are celebrating the momentous occasion of turning 100, Team GRF already has its eye on the next 100 years!

“It’s a legacy factory, but what we also feel very happy about is that we have continued to remain relevant in the business and competitive within the company, despite the high costs of being located in the heart of a city,” said one of the team members who showed us around. 

One of the ways in which Team GRF strives to remain relevant and modern is by picking up best practices from Unilever as well from as from other industry leaders, they said. 

PS: On that Friday not only did we learn about a slice of history sitting proudly just a soap’s whiff away from our city, we learnt that unlike other factories, a soap factory is incredibly sweet-smelling. 

Branded Journey

1888: Sunlight is the first Lever Brothers brand to be introduced in India
1888-1905: Brands like Sunlight, Pears, Lifebuoy and Lux Flakes are imported into India
1916: Garden Reach Factory (GRF) is started by North West Soap Company
1939: Lever Brothers acquires GRF 
1959: Surf is launched in India
1964: Sunsilk is launched 
1969: Rin bar is launched 
1974: Liril is launched 
1975: Close-Up is launched 
1988: Lux International and Wheel are launched
1994: Lifebuoy completes 100 years
2016: GRF completes 100 years

Pictures: Arnab Mondal