Unilever beats sales forecasts as home and beauty brands demand drive growth
Unilever reported first-quarter underlying sales growth of 3.8%, exceeding analyst expectations, driven by strong volume growth in its home and beauty brands despite rising costs linked to the Iran conflict. The company plans frequent but small price increases, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, to offset higher-than-expected cost inflation of up to 900 million euros. While maintaining its 2026 sales and profit margin forecasts, Unilever is shifting back to volume-led growth after years of price-driven strategies, as part of a broader restructuring under CEO Fernando Fernandez.
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By Yadarisa Shabong and Richa Naidu April 30 (Reuters) - Unilever said on Thursday it would raise prices to soften the hit from higher-than-expected costs driven by the Iran war, even as it reported first-quarter underlying sales growth ahead of analysts’ forecasts. The London-listed maker of Dove soap and Axe deodorant, which has a market valuation of more than $120 billion, kept its 2026 sales and profit margin forecasts unchanged, indicating it hopes to weather the heightened economic uncertainty. Consumer goods companies are navigating one of the most challenging cost environments in years due to surging commodity prices and supply chain disruptions from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
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