Unilever, a global consumer goods company, has partnered with Alphabet Inc.'s Google Cloud to use its enterprise AI platform, Vertex AI, across its branding and consumer operations for the next five years, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The deal will see the company build what it calls an "AI-first digital backbone", reshaping how its brands are discovered, marketed, and measured. At the center of the collaboration are three pillars: agentic commerce and marketing intelligence, an integrated data and cloud foundation, and advanced AI deployment across the value chain. Google Cloud will migrate Unilever’s key enterprise applications and data platforms to its infrastructure, creating a connected environment for scalable AI systems capable of executing complex workflows across supply chain, marketing and operations. “Technology has moved to the core of value creation at Unilever,” said Willem Uijen, Unilever's chief supply chain and operations officer, in the statement. “As brands are increasingly discovered and chosen in environments shaped by AI, we must lead this shift.” Unilever manages over 400 brands in about 190 countries, including Knorr, Vaseline, Closeup, Dove, Lux, Pepsodent, and Hellmann’s. With access to Google Cloud, it plans to build systems that can handle complex tasks across its business operations. Unilever is focusing on 30 “power brands” and expanding its “desire at scale” marketing strategy using AI. “We are deploying our advanced models, such as Gemini, to create a system of intelligence that reasons, learns, and acts,” said Tara Brady, president, EMEA, at Google Cloud. Unilever joins other consumer goods companies using AI in their operations, including Nestle, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart. In 2025, Unilever Nigeria reported profit and revenue growth despite exiting some homecare and skin-cleansing markets. It also announced a €1.5 billion share buyback starting in the second quarter of 2026 and a 3% increase in its quarterly dividend.
