Unilever makes a clean sweep at Effies 2011

Unilever Sri Lanka established its strong brand equity yet again at the recently concluded Effie Awards 2011 held at Waters Edge on 22 November. The Company’s brands Surf Excel, Signal, Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Rexona collectively won six Effie Awards.

Unilever brands – Surf Excel, Vaseline and Lifebuoy – won three silver awards for their “Surf Excel Washing School,” “Vaseline Two Toned People” and “Lifebuoy Global Handwash Day” campaigns respectively in the “Home Care & Appliances,” “Beauty Products and Services” and “Corporate Reputation/Professional Services” categories.    

Unilever also won three bronze awards in the “Beauty Products and Services” category for their Signal toothpaste campaign “Signal Whitening; White Unoth Right,” Signal toothbrush campaign “Signal Junior Toothbrush Playtime” and “The Walking Fan” campaign for Rexona.

“As a FMCG Company the consumer is at the centre of our universe.  Our success and failure depends on how effectively we are able to communicate our offerings to them.  We are very proud to have won these awards, as they are recognition of the fact that we understand our consumers and are able to speak their language,” said Ramani Samarasundera, Marketing Director of Unilever Sri Lanka.

The Effies are awards established by the American Marketing Association that reward effectiveness of advertising and publicity at national and regional level. The Sri Lankan Institute of Marketing (SLIM) which is the national body of marketers, have signed up with the American Marketing Association to introduce the prestigious Effies to Sri Lanka.

The Effie Awards translate into the recognition the industry pays to the momentum, dedication and creativity that great marketers have established in forming great brand communications.

Unilever Sri Lanka is one of the biggest FMCG companies in Sri Lanka which has a diverse portfolio in the categories of homecare, oral care, personal care and foods. With a 75-year long manufacturing presence in the country, Unilever Sri Lanka produces 95% of its products locally, starting with Sunlight, Lux and Pears Rose.

Today it has a portfolio of 27 brands including Surf, Signal, Laojee, Ceylonta, Knorr, Sunsilk, and Astra are household names and market leaders in the respective categories. Unilever Sri Lanka was also ranked the fourth most respected entity in Sri Lanka by LMD in 2011.