In a bold move that underscores its commitment to innovation and local manufacturing, Unilever has announced an £80 million investment in a new state-of-the-art fragrance manufacturing complex at its historic site in Port Sunlight, near Liverpool. This development forms part of a larger £300 million investment strategy over the next two years, which will see upgrades across the company’s UK-based R&D centres, offices, and manufacturing facilities.
This isn’t just a logistical expansion- it’s a strategic pivot. The planned facility will house advanced fragrance research labs, robotic blending stations, and evaluation suites where perfumers will test and refine scents. Impressively, Unilever also plans to integrate artificial intelligence to enhance formulation processes, representing a leap forward in how fragrances are developed and deployed in consumer products.
Fragrances are essential to Unilever’s personal care, beauty, and home care categories- segments that together generated two-thirds of the company's €60.8 billion in global turnover last year. By bringing fragrance innovation in-house, Unilever aims to accelerate product development and deliver signature scents that resonate more closely with consumer preferences.
Port Sunlight holds a special place in Unilever’s story. Founded by Lord Leverhulme in the late 19th century as a model village for workers producing Sunlight soap, the location is not just a symbolic home but a continuing hub for cutting-edge research and development. The new fragrance facility will deepen these roots, bringing at least 60 new skilled jobs to the area and further enhancing the site’s global significance.
The UK government has welcomed the investment as a vote of confidence in the country's manufacturing base and innovation economy. The project is expected to be completed by 2027, pending planning approval, and reflects Unilever’s wider “Growth Action Plan” aimed at driving performance through superior products and enhanced internal capabilities.
Importantly, while Unilever is building in-house expertise, the company will continue longstanding partnerships with leading fragrance houses such as DSM-Firmenich and Givaudan. This hybrid approach blends the company’s global reach and institutional knowledge with the specialist expertise of its partners.
Additionally, Unilever’s collaboration with the University of Liverpool and institutions like the Materials Innovation Factory highlights its ambition to lead in digital chemistry and sustainable materials. It’s not just about better-smelling products - it’s about better science, better design, and a more agile, technology-led future for consumer goods.
This investment represents a fascinating intersection of tradition and innovation. By anchoring high-tech facilities in a place of deep historic significance, Unilever is not only investing in the future of fragrance but also in the future of British manufacturing and scientific excellence
Image: Unilever
