Food and consumer goods giant Unilever has booked a 13% increase in first-half profits, driven by margin improvements.
The company said today (25 July) net profit rose to EUR2.68bn from EUR2.37bn in the first half of 2012. Operating profit was up 14% at EUR3.92bn. Gains were driven by improved margins, with a 140 basis point improvement in gross margins and a 40 basis point improvement in core operating margins.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Underlying sales rose 5%, with 10.3% growth in emerging markets. However, total sales were up just 0.4% to EUR25.5bn, dragged down by currency headwinds and disposals, including the Skippy peanut butter brand. Unilever’s household and personal care businesses led revenue gains, with food sales up just 0.2% and sales from refreshments, which includes ice cream and tea, up 2.1% in the period.
Click here for coverage of Unilever’s conference call with analysts.
Read a round-up of how City analysts viewed the numbers.
Click here to view the full financial filing.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData
