12.05.14
Unilever’s third quarter sales rose 2.1% to $15.5 billion, with personal care up 3.0% to $5.7 billion and home care jumping 5.7% to $2.9 billion. For the nine months, sales rose 3.2% to $46 billion with emerging market sales up 6.2%. Personal care rose 4.0% to $16.5 billion and home care increased 6.4% to $8.6 billion.
In personal care, deodorants benefited from a strong performance of Dove, the launch of Rexona Antibacterial Protection in Latin America and the success of the compressed aerosol range in Europe. Skin cleansing sales got a boost from Lifebuoy and the improved Dove Nutrium Moisture body wash performed well. Lux continued to benefit from the improved product range and new brand communication.
In hair, the Dove Advanced Hair series is building a premium offering with the introduction of the Oxygen Moisture range in Europe. Sunsilk is growing and Clear benefited from a successful launch in Japan. Regenerate Enamel Science, a new oral brand that is billed as the first toothpaste and serum system that regenerates the enamel surface with a layer of minerals that have the same chemical composition as natural enamel, is progressing well in the UK.
Laundry sales posted good gains, balanced between price and volume, in competitive markets. A range of stain removers and pre-treaters was successfully launched under the Omo brand in Brazil and Surf was relaunched with improved fragrance in Southeast Asia and Australasia. Small & Mighty concentrated liquids remain a key growth driver and fabric conditioners benefited from the continued growth of Comfort Aromatherapy super-sensorials.
Household cleaning product sales continued to outpace the market, driven by strong double-digit performances from Domestos and dishwash, helped by innovations such as Sunlight Nature in South East Asia. In the United Kingdom, Cif sprays were re-launched with improved Power and Shine formulations.
According to CEO Paul Polman, “Underlying sales growth of 3.2% in the first nine months is a competitive performance in markets which weakened further as macro-economic conditions continued to put pressure on consumers.”
Polman noted that market growth slowed in emerging countries and particularly in China where Unilever experienced substantial trade de-stocking. Europe saw price deflation and poor summer weather compared with last year but conditions in North America started to improve.
“Altogether this resulted in reduced third quarter growth, but still ahead of our markets. We continued to invest behind our brands and innovations so that we are well positioned for the long-term growth opportunities that remain fully intact,” he said. “We expect markets to remain tough for at least the remainder of the year. We have further accelerated our initiatives to remove unnecessary cost, simplify the business and ensure that Unilever is both agile and resilient.”
In personal care, deodorants benefited from a strong performance of Dove, the launch of Rexona Antibacterial Protection in Latin America and the success of the compressed aerosol range in Europe. Skin cleansing sales got a boost from Lifebuoy and the improved Dove Nutrium Moisture body wash performed well. Lux continued to benefit from the improved product range and new brand communication.
In hair, the Dove Advanced Hair series is building a premium offering with the introduction of the Oxygen Moisture range in Europe. Sunsilk is growing and Clear benefited from a successful launch in Japan. Regenerate Enamel Science, a new oral brand that is billed as the first toothpaste and serum system that regenerates the enamel surface with a layer of minerals that have the same chemical composition as natural enamel, is progressing well in the UK.
Laundry sales posted good gains, balanced between price and volume, in competitive markets. A range of stain removers and pre-treaters was successfully launched under the Omo brand in Brazil and Surf was relaunched with improved fragrance in Southeast Asia and Australasia. Small & Mighty concentrated liquids remain a key growth driver and fabric conditioners benefited from the continued growth of Comfort Aromatherapy super-sensorials.
Household cleaning product sales continued to outpace the market, driven by strong double-digit performances from Domestos and dishwash, helped by innovations such as Sunlight Nature in South East Asia. In the United Kingdom, Cif sprays were re-launched with improved Power and Shine formulations.
According to CEO Paul Polman, “Underlying sales growth of 3.2% in the first nine months is a competitive performance in markets which weakened further as macro-economic conditions continued to put pressure on consumers.”
Polman noted that market growth slowed in emerging countries and particularly in China where Unilever experienced substantial trade de-stocking. Europe saw price deflation and poor summer weather compared with last year but conditions in North America started to improve.
“Altogether this resulted in reduced third quarter growth, but still ahead of our markets. We continued to invest behind our brands and innovations so that we are well positioned for the long-term growth opportunities that remain fully intact,” he said. “We expect markets to remain tough for at least the remainder of the year. We have further accelerated our initiatives to remove unnecessary cost, simplify the business and ensure that Unilever is both agile and resilient.”