Overview
- Underlying sales rose 3.9% to €14.7 billion, while reported turnover fell 3.5% due to currency headwinds and prior disposals.
- Beauty and wellbeing led with 5.1% growth, powered by double-digit gains at Dove hair, Vaseline, Liquid I.V., Nutrafol, Hourglass and K18.
- Volumes increased about 1.5% and pricing added 2.4%, with North America up 5.5% on strong personal care and beauty demand.
- The planned demerger of the Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream unit was delayed by the U.S. government shutdown, yet Unilever still targets completion by year-end with a primary listing in Amsterdam and secondary listings in New York and the UK.
- Full-year guidance for 3% to 5% underlying growth was reiterated, with second-half margins expected at least 18.5% and emerging markets stabilizing as China and Indonesia returned to growth and India faced temporary tax-related destocking.