Overview
- Unilever announced an immediate, company‑wide hiring freeze at all levels for a minimum of three months, calling the step a temporary pause in a memo and public statement.
- The company cited “significant challenges” from the Middle East conflict, pointing to higher fuel prices, disrupted trade through the Strait of Hormuz, and rising freight and packaging costs.
- The freeze layers onto a 2024 savings plan targeting about €800 million and roughly 7,500 mostly office roles, with €670 million in savings delivered by the end of 2025.
- Unilever’s workforce stands near 96,000 employees, down from about 149,000 in 2020, reflecting multi‑year efforts to streamline the business.
- Talks to sell Unilever’s foods business to McCormick & Company are ongoing, and the firm said a deal could be possible as soon as Tuesday, though it cautioned there is no certainty an agreement will be reached.