Connect with us

Foreign

Unilever: Ice cream in, personal hygiene out in lockdown

Published

on

Washing hair and eating ice cream

People working from home have been eating more ice cream but neglecting their grooming habits, consumer goods giant Unilever has suggested.

The firm said ice cream sales leapt 26% in the three months to June, but demand for shampoo and deodorant fell.

It said it had seen strong “growth in home consumption of foods, ice cream and tea” during lockdown.

But there had been “fewer personal care occasions from going to work or socialising”.

However, it said sales of some cleaning products, such as hand sanitiser, had soared as people stepped up efforts to battle Covid-19.

The firm’s Magnum and Ben and Jerry’s brands benefited the most as people bought more ice cream to eat at home.

Dove deodorants
Image captionThe company owns the Dove soap brand

The company – which makes the deodorant Lynx and Dove soap – had warned about shrinking personal care sales at its last trading update in April.

It said that as more people worked from home, they were washing their hair less often, putting off shaving and even ditching deodorant.

Four months on, it said personal care sales had continued to slump.

But it reported increased demand for household cleaning products, such as Cif surface cleaners and Domestos, which campaigned to educate consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Resilient business

Unilever – which owns brands such as Marmite and PG Tips tea – posted a 4% climb in first-half pre-tax profits to €4.5bn (£3.5bn) after people stockpiled toilet rolls and other consumer goods at the start of the coronavirus crisis.

“In North America and parts of Europe, there was a positive impact from household stocking in March,” it said.

“Consumption patterns then normalised in the second quarter with heightened levels of demand for hygiene and in-home food products.”

Boss Alan Jope said the results “demonstrated the resilience of the business”, as demand from the hospitality industry for its products slumped after hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars closed.

But with people buying more food to eat at home, the company saw double-digit growth in its retail foods business, with Knorr soups and Hellmann’s sauces performing strongly.

Marmite and toast
Image captionUnilever makes Marmite

Unilever also confirmed plans to spin off its tea business, which includes other household brands such as Lipton and Brooke Bond.

It said it would retain its tea businesses in India and Indonesia and partnership interests in ready-to-drink tea joint ventures.

“The balance of Unilever’s tea brands and geographies and all tea estates have an exciting future, and this potential can best be achieved as a separate entity,” it said.

“A process will now begin to implement the separation, which is expected to conclude by the end of 2021.”

Business19 mins ago

PhotoStory: SARA By Wema SME Learning Series

Business49 mins ago

UNION BANK’S ALPHER PARTNERS WITH CHRYSTALLIS CONVERSATIONS TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Business16 hours ago

FCMB Launches “FCMB Airtime Advance”

Business23 hours ago

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: TONY ELUMELU COMMEMORATES WITH SYMBOLIC TREE PLANTING AT TRANSCORP HILTON ABUJA

Business23 hours ago

Union Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainability; Partners NCF to Commemorate World Environment Day 2023

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC
Business2 days ago

Stanbic IBTC Celebrates Children’s Day, Reiterates Commitment to the Wellbeing of the Nigerian Child

Business2 days ago

Zenith Bank’s Ebenezer Onyeagwu Named Best Banking CEO Of The Year 2023

Business2 days ago

2023 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: POLARIS BANK RESTATES COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA.

Business3 days ago

Unity Bank Grows Gross Earnings to N57Billion in 2022FY, Builds Momentum as Profit Grows by 21% in Q1/2023

Politics3 days ago

Charly Boy Exposes President Tinubu’s ‘Real Age’, Shares Old

Politics4 days ago

Fayemi speaks out about the EFCC investigation into suspected N4bn fraud.

Business4 days ago

Sterling Bank Declares Bounty At 61st AGM

Business5 days ago

Polaris Bank Affirms Transparency In Bank’s Acquisition Process In Leaked Email

Business6 days ago

Access Bank Launches French Desk to Strengthen Nigeria, France Economic Ties

Press Release6 days ago

Viju Milk Drink exemplifies the spirit of World Milk Day by promoting the consumption of milk

Copyright © FastNews Nigeria