ClickAJob News

Consumer goods giant Unilever has reported underlying sales growth of 4.5 per cent during the third quarter.

The company behind numerous leading household and food brands - including Persil, Lipton tea and Knorr soups - also revealed that its pre-tax profits climbed by 21 per cent to €1.37 billion (£952 million) in the three months to September.

Unilever said a "sharp rise" in commodity costs over the quarter had been offset by increased pricing and the delivery of further savings from its cost-cutting programmes.

The world's third-biggest food and consumer goods group revealed that its operating profits in the third quarter had been hit by a €234 million (£163 million) charge related to its restructuring plans, which will see 20,000 jobs axed over the next four years.

But Unilever, which said it had progressed with the establishment of several new multi-country organisations and significantly restructured its European supply chain over the period, stressed it was confident of achieving its outlook for 2007.

The company said it achieved growth across all regions and categories over the third quarter, although bad weather in northern Europe hit sales of Unilever's ice cream products, reducing overall growth in the region by two percentage points to 0.7 per cent.

However Unilever chief executive Patrick Cescau was positive about the group's overall performance, stressing: "The third quarter marks a continuation of the momentum established in the first half of 2007.

"The focus on our growth priorities, together with stronger innovation, improved speed to market and better in-market execution, is delivering consistent and sustainable organic growth," he added.