By Salma El-Sakka
Unilever has increased prices for home and personal care products, including Dove soap and Lynx deodorant, to offset soaring commodity costs driven by the Iran war. The consumer goods giant said prices “stepped up” in the third quarter, with higher prices contributing 2.3 percentage points to 5.2% underlying sales growth in the three months to September 30.
Volume Growth and Revised Outlook
Chief executive Fernando Fernandez said the company delivered competitive growth led by strong volume delivery and a step-up in price. Unilever raised its full-year volume growth outlook to at least 3% for 2026, up from a previous forecast of around 3%. The group also expects underlying sales growth of about 5% in the second half, compared with earlier guidance of 4-5%.
McCormick Joint Venture on Track
Unilever confirmed progress on its £33.8 billion deal to combine its food business with US rival McCormick, announced in March. The joint venture, which would unite brands such as Marmite and French’s mustard, is on track for a timely closing by mid-2027. Regulatory filings have been submitted on schedule, with more than 200 employees working across 20 cross-functional teams.
