Unilever beats first-quarter underlying sales growth estimates
The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream posted 3% underlying sales growth for the quarter ended March 31, topping analysts' expectations of a 2.8% rise.
Unilever, whose other brands include Vaseline, Hellmann's mustard and Lifebuoy, said it was confident about its full-year plans despite the global macroeconomic uncertainty.
The company said its productivity programme was ahead of plan, and is expected to deliver about £550m in savings by the end of 2025.
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Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Unilever's ice cream sales rise ahead of €15bn spin-off
Unilever's ice cream sales grew above expectations in the first half of the year in a boost to the FTSE 100 consumer goods group as it presses ahead with a spin-off of the €15 billion (€17.3 billion) division. Sales of Magnum, Ben & Jerry's and Cornetto rose 5.9 per cent in the first half, significantly ahead of expectations, boosted by new product launches, spells of hot weather and an overhaul of its supply chains and distribution. The company is spinning off the division later this year as new chief executive Fernando Fernandez forges ahead with a turnaround plan that will see the company pivot away from food towards beauty and personal care. In a half-year trading update on Thursday, the maker of Dove soap and Colman's mustard announced it would demerge the ice cream business, which makes up 15 per cent of group sales, in November. READ MORE Unilever will retain a stake of under 20 per cent, which it will sell down over five years to cover the costs of separation. The new business, called The Magnum Ice Cream Company, has been operating as a stand-alone business since July 1st and is headed up by Unilever veteran Peter ter Kulve. The volume of ice cream Unilever sold in the second quarter of the year rose 5 per cent, far ahead of an expected 1.3 per cent rise, as the company invested in new product launches such as Magnum's Utopia range. By comparison, personal care sales volumes rose 0.2 per cent and beauty and wellbeing rose 1 per cent, undershooting expectations. Food and home care rose 1.7 and 1.3 per cent, respectively. Unilever has made a number of acquisitions for the personal care division this year, including the $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion) deal for men's soap range Dr Squatch, and eco deodorant brand Wild. Unilever's underlying group sales rose 3.4 per cent in the first half, just ahead of the 3.3 per cent forecast by analysts. The group's operating profit was down 4.8 compared with last year at €5.8 billion in the first half, slightly ahead of expectations. The company confirmed its full-year organic sales growth guidance of 3 to 5 per cent. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Unilever's sales growth beats estimates as North America, Europe shines
Dove soap maker Unilever has today beaten market expectations for second-quarter underlying sales growth due to robust demand in North America and Europe, and kept its sales expectations for the full year. Unilever has made several organisational and operational changes over the past year to address underperformance and boost margins, including the planned spin-off of its ice cream business which makes Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, job cuts and the ouster of former CEO Hein Schumacher in February. The ice cream business, called The Magnum Ice Cream Company, is on track for a demerger in mid-November, the company said. "Looking ahead, our priorities are clear - more Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care; disproportionate investment in the US and India; and, a sharper focus on premium segments and digital commerce," CEO Fernando Fernandez said in a statement. While the company maintained its 2025 sales forecast and highlighted areas of growth, a 50% drop in free cash flow from last year to €1.1 billion in the first half raises concerns about the financial strain caused by supply chain changes, tariff uncertainties, and costs associated with spinning off its ice cream division. The owner of brands such as Vaseline and Liquid IV electrolytes said the second half is expected to grow ahead of the first, with resilience in the North American and European markets and with India, China and Indonesia expected to improve. Unilever has previously said that the impact of US tariffs was expected to be limited and manageable. The consumer goods company reported underlying sales growth of 3.8% for the three months ended June 30, compared with 3.6% expected by analysts in a company-compiled poll.
Irish Post
02-06-2025
- Irish Post
How Ella and Jo became a global beauty brand
IN the crowded world of beauty and skincare, Ella & Jo stands out. Founded in 2017 by Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan, Ella & Jo has grown from a simple idea into a globally recognised Irish skincare brand. Before founding Ella & Jo, Niamh was a brand manager at Unilever and spent years travelling through the UK, Australia, and the U.S. before returning home to open her own skin clinic, Bella Beauty, which has been running for over 15 years. It was here, at the clinic, that Charlene and Niamh's paths first crossed. Charlene had forged her own path in the beauty world. 'I left college with an honours in marketing and then went on into digital marketing. I ended up setting up a really successful career in professional makeup artistry, and I worked on TV and media. My bridal makeup calendar was booked out two years in advance.' Their connection was instant. At the time, skincare wasn't the booming, consumer-friendly market it is today, and there were considerable gaps in the market. Those gaps would eventually inspire their first breakthrough product. Ella & Jo began with the Squeaky Clean Brush Cleanser. Niamh had seen firsthand in her clinic how dirty makeup brushes contributed to skin issues, while Charlene, a professional makeup artist, knew the importance of facial hygiene. 'From the very beginning up until now, everything at Ella & Jo is about consumer focus,' Charlene said. 'We never created products just for the product's sake.' For the first few years, the brand grew slowly and intentionally. 'At the time, Niamh and I had four children between the two of us. Everything was a slow drive,' Charlene said. 'But after participating in female entrepreneurship programmes, we recognised that there was something magic here.' The duo's participation in multiple programmes for entrepreneurs helped morph their small business into a multinational company. They poured their time, energy, and resources into Ella & Jo, and it paid off. 'Thankfully, we've seen incredible success to date. It's been an amazing journey.' The brand name itself is a nod to their roots: 'Ella' is inspired by Niamh's Bella Beauty clinic, and 'Jo' is a shortened version of Charlene's married surname. From the west of Ireland to the pages of Vogue (Photo by Ella and Jo) From the start, Ella & Jo has had a focus on storytelling and community. 'The community is at the heart of everything we do,' Charlene explained. 'No amount of advertising budget can ever buy that emotional connection that we've made.' That authentic relationship with their audience is also a key part of product development. 'We run surveys every 12 to 18 months with our current customer base. You would ask them, 'What would you like to see?'' Charlene said. That feedback loop has led to the creation of several standout products, including a night cream with a plant-based alternative to retinol and their innovative Invisible SPF Mist. 'We saw a gap in the market because women weren't topping up their SPF during the day because of their makeup. So we created something that solved that problem.' Ella & Jo is not only consumer-led but also deeply committed to sustainability. 'We've just been certified as a B Corp registered company,' Charlene revealed. 'There are only 66 companies in Ireland that have been B Corp approved, and that is a massive milestone.' From the beginning, the founders prioritised sustainable packaging—aluminium bottles, recyclable glass jars and minimal plastic use. They also manufacture exclusively in Ireland. From its roots in the west of Ireland, Ella & Jo has grown into a global brand, shipping to over 50 countries. 'Our online platform gave us insight into where the growth potential might be,' Charlene said. 'The UK was first in line; we saw a huge expat community there.' 'We signed on with Cat Deeley two years ago as our beauty ambassador. She had just moved from the States to the UK and adored the brand, and we worked with her to launch. That was hugely successful—our photo shoot with her was on the cover of Hello magazine.' Ella & Jo has also been featured in Vogue and has explored new markets in the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East. 'The growth is definitely there,' Charlene said. The founders are now turning their eyes toward spa recognition, developing products that bring luxury treatments into everyday routines. 'We developed products that were spa-like treatments at home. We're open to so many opportunities.' Charlene's advice for others looking to follow a similar path is clear: 'Surround yourself with people who have done it before and find the network. Find an entrepreneurship programme.' She also emphasised the importance of balance. 'Prioritise your well-being. Everybody's balance is going to look different.' 'I feel like Ella & Jo is so much more than just skincare,' Charlene said. 'We invest in storytelling. We invest in our community.' From a single brush cleanser to a globally recognised B Corp beauty brand, Ella & Jo proves that when passion meets purpose, great things can happen. See More: Beauty, Business, Charlene Flanagan, Ella And Jo, Niamh Ryan
