Anglo-Dutch food group Unilever has reported a 31% gain in third quarter net profits despite a slowdown in sales in Europe where bad weather cut into ice cream consumption.
The company said net profit came to just over €1 billion on sales which rose by 1% compared with a year earlier to €10.24 billion.
Overall European sales, which represent about a third of the total, fell 0.6% in the period from the same quarter last year. Sales also fell 2.3% in the US but jumped 8.1% in Africa-Asia, driven by robust performances in China and India.
Unilever, which also makes Lipton soups, Dove soap and Amora mustard, in early August announced plans to cut 20,000 jobs worldwide over the next four years, or 11% of its workforce. The company at the time said it expected sales this year to grow by 3% to 5%. The restructuring cost Unilever €234m in the third quarter.
