Consumer-goods giant Unilever has posted a 4.3% increase in sales at constant exchange rates in full-year 2016, according to a results statement issued this morning.
Underlying sales growth was up 3.7%, with price up 2.8% and volume up 0.9%.
“We have delivered another good all-round performance, despite severe economic disruptions, particularly in India and Brazil, two of our largest markets,” said Unilever CEO Paul Polman. “This further demonstrates the progress we have made in transforming Unilever into a more resilient business. We have, again, grown ahead of our markets, driven by strong innovations that support our category strategies.”
Polman said that the next stage in Unilever’s transformation plan, Connected 4 Growth, “will make Unilever simpler, faster and more connected with our consumers and customers.” The company has sought to reshape its portfolio in several categories, such as with the recent purchases of Dollar Shave Club, Blueair, Seventh Generation and Living Proof.
In Foods, Hellmann’s and Knorr delivered another year of strong growth, according to Unilever, with squeezy packs and a range of savoury flavours hitting the mark with consumers in emerging markets. In personal care, Dove also had another good year, while a Sunsilk and TRESemmé launch helped boost sales.
Home care delivered “another year of growth ahead of our markets, driven by strong innovations”, Unilever said, while refreshment, which includes ice cream, was driven by products such as the Magnum Double range and the Ben & Jerry’s ‘Wich sandwich.
Unilever recently made a pledge to switch to recyclable packaging by 2025.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
