Anglo-Dutch food and cosmetics giant Unilever today reported a 26% rise in net profit for 2010 and a better than expected fourth quarter result, mainly due to higher emerging market sales.
Net profit for the year was €4.24 billon, the company said, while the result for the fourth quarter rose 15% from a year earlier to €955m. The fourth quarter result was higher than a figure of €918m predicted by analysts.
'2010 results were strong despite intense competition, weak consumer confidence in many markets and the impact of rising commodities costs in the second half,' Unilever said.
'Whilst markets showed little or no growth in the developed economies, emerging market growth remained healthy,' the company added.
