Partnerships
Many health organisations value their associations with us. They say that you need food companies, health organisations and other interested groups to work together to ensure foods are developed that meet people's health and nutrition needs, and that also taste great, are the right price and are easily available.
Our track record of working with health professionals is unique. Back in the 1960s Becel spread was developed after doctors in The Netherlands told us they wanted a product that could help people manage their blood cholesterol. Today we work with health and regulatory bodies to tackle many of the leading health and nutrition issues in the world today, including obesity and nutritional deficiencies.
Working with UNICEF
For instance we've developed a global partnership with UNICEF to address Africa's four main vitamin and mineral deficiencies – Vitamin A, zinc, protein and iron. By adding them to 'carrier' foods, we hope to reduce child mortality. UNICEF's Director of Private Sector Division, Rudolf Deutekom has said: "These programmes have the potential to make a phenomenal difference."
Working with WHO
Through collaborations we're also involved in health promotion. For instance we're part of a group helping the World Health Organization develop a global strategy to encourage people to have healthier diets, get more exercise and take better care of themselves. Unilever Food & Health Research Institute is providing nutrition expertise on the project, while our skills in marketing will be useful to get the message across to consumers.
In another major health promotion initiative, our Healthy Heart brand team has a three-year global partnership with the World Heart Federation. Through the collaboration, our operating companies have joined forces with local heart charities to organise and promote a wide range of events and activities.
Working with the FDI World Dental Federation
Unilever and the FDI World Dental Federation, the worldwide independent voice of the dental profession, have formed a global partnership to improve oral health globally. The partnership will fund local oral health projects that are proposed by National Dental Associations (the member organisations of the FDI) and activated with the support of local Unilever companies with whom they work. The partnership is called Live. Learn. Laugh. and is a powerful example of vitality in action.
What this partnership means for our brands
The partnership will also allow Unilever to include the FDI logo and agreed supportive statements on a selection of Unilever branded oral care products, in TV and graphic advertising. Although the FDI does not sponsor or endorse any commercial product, it does support the principle behind our products. This third party endorsement - from an authority on oral care - will help differentiate our products from competitors.
Successful global launch to 12 000 key opinion formers
The partnership was launched at the FDI World Dental Congress in August 2005. This proved the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of Unilever Oral Care and this programme, with over 12 000 key opinion formers within the dental community attending the Congress.
Why the name Live.Learn.Laugh.?
Live.
The purpose of it all. The programmes we will fund will give millions of people the opportunity to live in a fuller way than they have before.
Learn.
The mechanism. We can establish prevention by helping people learn about good oral health, and understand why it is important to overall health and well-being.
Laugh.
The output. Something that goes beyond the generic cliché of the smile - a deeper and more spontaneous expression of joy.
