Unilever shares results for the full year 2025

Unilever reported full-year 2025 results shwoing underlying sales growth of 3.5% (volume +1.5%), turnover €50.5 billion (down 3.8% due to currency and disposals), and strong margin expansion. Its Power Brands drove growth, and a €1.5 billion share buyback was announced.

CEO Fernando Fernandez said Unilever transformed into a “simpler, sharper, faster” company in 2025, and emphasized innovation, emerging market improvements, and the Ice Cream demerger. Priorities included premium segments, digital commerce, and growth in the US and India.

“We are moving at speed to build a business that drives desire at scale in our brands, execution excellence across all channels and cost discipline. We have set clear priorities for growth – building a brand portfolio for the future, with more Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care, prioritising premium segments and digital commerce, and anchoring our growth in the US and India," he said. “Despite slowing markets, our sharper focus and disciplined execution underpin our confidence for 2026 and beyond.”

The company focused its portfolio on Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care, and divested non-core food brands. It reorganized sales structures for accountability and reset operations in Indonesia and China. Premium innovations and digital-first marketing were scaled.

• Beauty & Wellbeing: 4.3% underlying sales growth was led by double-digit growth in Wellbeing, Dove and Vaseline. Underlying sales growth of 4.7% in the fourth quarter was driven by a stronger Asia Pacific Africa delivery which offset slower growth in the Wellbeing market.
• Personal Care: 4.7% underlying sales growth was supported by market share gains, premium innovations, and commodity-driven price increases. In the fourth quarter, underlying sales growth remained strong at 5.1%.
• Home Care: 2.6% underlying sales growth was led by volume. Underlying sales growth accelerated to 4.7% in the fourth quarter with 4.0% volume supported by a sequential improvement in key emerging markets.
• Foods: 2.5% underlying sales growth was driven by emerging markets. Developed market underlying sales growth was flat despite declining markets, as Hellmann’s continued to perform well. In the fourth quarter, underlying sales growth was 2.3%, as markets remained subdued.

In 2026, Unilever expects 4% to 6% underlying sales growth, with volume growth of at least 2%. Operating margin is forecast to improve modestly despite slower market conditions.

In terms of regional & group performance, developed markets grew 3.6%, led by North America (5.3%) and Europe by 1.5%. Emerging markets grew 3.5% growth, with strong recovery in Asia Pacific Africa. Growth in India is 4%, Indonesia 4%, while China performance was flat but improving. Latin America saw modest growth.

Unilever’s operating profit was €9.0 billion (+2.4%). Margins improved due to productivity savings (€670 million delivered), overhead discipline, and brand investment. Gross margin rose to 46.9%.

The company’s Ice Cream division was spun off as The Magnum Ice Cream Company, listed independently. Unilever retained a 19.9% stake to be sold gradually.

Unilever returned €6.0 billion to shareholders via dividends and buybacks, while continuing acquisitions (Dr. Squatch, Minimalist, Wild) and divestments (Vegetarian Butcher, Kate Somerville, Graze, etc.).