Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever has upped its stake in Israel ice-cream maker Strauss Ice Cream.

The firm originally bought a 50% stake in Strauss in 1996, before acquiring an additional 1% of the shares five years later, thus gaining a 51% controlling position in Israel’s largest ice cream maker.

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Unilever today (27 April) confirmed that it has now bought an additional 39% of the company, taking its stake to 90%.

Financial detailers, however, were not disclosed.

“We are number one globally in ice cream, which is a core category for Unilever,” a spokesperson for Unilever told just-food.

“We are also trying to keep our business as simple as possible and have been pursuing what we call our ‘One Unilever’ initiative for some time now, bringing different Unilever businesses together.”

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Unilever declined to comment on plans to buy the firm outright in the future.

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