“Refreshment” is biggest grower
The Knorr, Dove, Calvé, Unox, Ben & Jerry and Magnum manufacturer managed to increase its third quarter turnover 9.4 % to 13.4 billion euro, slightly more than the 13.2 billion analysts had predicted. In total, turnover over the first 9 months of 2015 reached 40.4 billion euro. Its underlying turnover growth, excluding favourable exchange rates and one-time costs, was 5.7 %: also well above the 3.9 % analysts had forecast.
Thanks to a beautiful summer, the “Refreshment” division (mainly ice cream and ice-tea) grew the most, going up 8.5 %. “Personal Care” (+ 6.2 %) and “Home Care” (+ 6.6 %) managed sizeable growth as well, but the “Foods” division lagged behind with a mere 1.6 % turnover increase.
Dutch CEO Paul Polman expects Unilever sales to grow at a faster pace than the market average, with underlying turnover growth close to 4 % (where it was previously between 2 to 4 %) and higher margins.
