Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever has said sales of its leading brands were flat in the second quarter, but the company kept its previous target for 2004 earnings per share.

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The company’s 0.2% slide in second-quarter sales of its top 400 brands, which include Hellmann’s, Knorr and Bertolli, follow an increase of just 1.3% in the first quarter.


Operating profit before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets fell 2% to €1.61bn (US$1.93bn) in the second quarter, failing to meet analysts’ average forecast of €1.68bn, reported Reuters.


Unilever said it is sticking to its forecast of low double-digit percentage growth in earnings per share for the full year.


“We gave a fully funded programme for the second half and maintain our outlook for full year earnings,” the company was quoted by Reuters as saying.

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