Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Unilever sales growth slows in India

BRITISH-DUTCH transnational consumer goods giant Unilever revealed on Thursday (17) that its third-quarter growth continued to soften in India.

Announcing the results for the third quarter of 2019, the company said: “Sales growth in India remained stable and competitive in a slowing market.”


In Europe and North America, the company’s market growth remained low. South East Asian markets continued to grow well, while growth in India softened further and China slowed a little. In Latin America, the economic environment remains difficult, the company said.

The company’s latest quarterly results show underlying sales growth of 2.9 per cent, led by its emerging market business which grew 5.1 per cent, and homecare division which grew 5.4 per cent.

It revealed an underlying sales growth of 2.9 per cent, with 1.4 per cent from volume and 1.5 per cent from price.

The company's turnover grew by 5.8 per cent, driven by sales growth, which included a positive impact of 2.3 per cent from currency and 0.8 per cent from acquisitions.

Commenting on the results, Unilever Chief Executive Officer Alan Jope said: “We have maintained momentum in the quarter, with a good balance between volume and price. Emerging markets and homecare have been the key growth drivers. We will step up competitive top-line performance through innovation and portfolio evolution to serve the faster-growing geographies and channels.

“...for the full year, we continue to expect underlying sales growth to be in the lower half of our multi-year 3-5 per cent range, an improvement in underlying operating margin that keeps us on track for the 2020 target and another year of strong free cash flow.”

The company’s foods and refreshment underlying sales grew 1.7 per cent, with volume down 0.2 per cent and pricing at 1.9 per cent.

In India, efforts to develop the green tea market with new Lipton variants are driving the share and penetration levels for the category, Unilever said.

The company’s beauty and personal care underlying sales grew 2.8 per cent, with 2.1 per cent from volume and 0.7 per cent from price.

Homecare underlying sales grew 5.4 per cent, with 3.2 per cent from volume and 2.1 per cent from price.

More For You

Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

Workers are engaged at their sewing stations in a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 9, 2025. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bangladesh seeks US deal to shield garment industry from tariffs

BANGLADESH, the world's second-biggest garment manufacturer, aims to strike a trade deal with the US before Donald Trump's punishing tariffs kick in next week, said the country's top commerce official.

Dhaka is proposing to buy Boeing planes and boost imports of US wheat, cotton and oil in a bid to reduce the trade deficit, which Trump used as the reason for imposing painful levies in his "Liberation Day" announcement.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Bond yields ease following Starmer’s support for Reeves

THE COST of UK government borrowing fell on Thursday, partially reversing the rise seen after Chancellor Rachel Reeves became emotional during Prime Minister’s Questions.

The yield on 10-year government bonds dropped to 4.55 per cent, down from 4.61 per cent the previous day. The pound also recovered slightly to $1.3668 (around £1.00), though it did not regain all its earlier losses.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty
Modi shakes hands with Trump before a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Indian exporters watch closely as Trump says trade deal with India likely

THE US could reach a trade deal with India that would help American companies compete more easily in the Indian market and reduce tariff rates, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday. However, he cast doubt on a similar deal with Japan.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he believed India was ready to lower trade barriers, potentially paving the way for an agreement that would avoid the 26 per cent tariff rate he had announced on April 2 and paused until July 9.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

INDIAN footwear sellers and artisans are tapping into nationalist pride stoked by the Prada 'sandal scandal' in a bid to boost sales of ethnic slippers with history dating back to the 12th century, raising hopes of reviving a struggling craft.

Sales are surging over the past week for the 'Kolhapuri' sandals that have garnered global attention after Prada sparked a controversy by showcasing similar designs in Milan, without initially crediting the footwear's origins.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Economy grew 0.7 per cent in Q1 2025, fastest in a year

THE UK economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year during the first quarter of 2025, driven by a rise in home purchases ahead of a tax deadline and higher manufacturing output before the introduction of new US import tariffs.

Gross domestic product rose by 0.7 per cent in the January-to-March period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, confirming its earlier estimate. This was the strongest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less