British consumer product company Unilever will invest US $400 million in Nuevo León over the next three years. The investment includes the construction of a regional manufacturing plant in the city of Salinas Victoria, the company said on Tuesday.
The plant will manufacture beauty and personal care products and is expected to generate 1,200 direct and indirect jobs. It is expected to begin operations in 2024.
The company also produces home goods and food products, managing popular brands such as Dove, Vaseline and Ben & Jerry’s. Unilever has a presence in more than 190 countries.
The investment is the fourth largest that has been registered during Nuevo León governor Samuel García’s term, behind Ternium, Lego and Kia. The factory will be located within the Nexxus ADN industrial park.
The new plant will be designed to be a “lighthouse factory,” an international designation recognizing the use of advanced technologies to make manufacturing processes more efficient and environmentally friendly.
“We welcome this new Unilever plant that will use state-of-the-art technology for environmental care and will position our state in the global beauty industry,” García said.
“It is a significant plant because of the technology it will use.”
According to Reginaldo Ecclissato, Unilever’s chief supply chain officer, the new factory represents an important investment for the company and contributes to Mexico and Nuevo León’s growth and development.
“We are excited about this new global alliance with the state of Nuevo León to develop our new world-class factory in Salinas Victoria, home to local and international manufacturing options,” he said on Tuesday.
Unilever has conducted operations in Mexico since the 1960s, employing more than 7,500 people in its four production plants, 37 ice cream businesses, two distribution centers and its corporate headquarters.
In recent months, companies have expressed increased interest in investing in Mexico as part of a broader nearshoring boom.
