Unilever first quarter 2018: improved momentum continues for BPC

25-Apr-2018 - Last updated on 25-Apr-2018 at 11:00 GMT

Beauty and personal care performed well for Unilever during the first quarter of 2018, with good volume growth across the period.

The international consumer goods giant notes that during its first quarter, Unilever grew its core with strong innovations behind purpose-led global and local brands, while expanding the portfolio in attractive segments and channels.

Across skin care, deodorants and hair care, new growth or returns to good volume growth levels saw a positive picture emerge across the board.

Skin care: a premium & sensorial focus

Skin cleansing delivered strong growth helped by new premium formats, suggests Unilever.

These included aerosol mousse which was launched across five brands in Europe, and the launch of Dove body polish in North America.

Both of these new formats tap into demand for improved and novel sensorial experiences.

Skin care performed well driven by Vaseline’s successful market development campaign, Dove Nourishing Secrets, a naturals-inspired hand and body range, and the therapeutic Dove Derma Series in the US.

Dollar Shave Club was introduced to the UK in this period too.

Deodorants: tricky in competitive markets

Deodorants returned to good volume growth, helped by innovations such as Rexona antibacterial and invisible, which offers both odour and stain protection.

However, Unilever states that price growth was negative in highly promotional markets.

Hair care: naturals leading the push

In hair care, volume-led growth was driven by Sunsilk and Dove, helped by their successful expansion into natural propositions with on-trend ingredients.

Further to this, the TRESemmé premium relaunch with improved formulation took place in North America and Europe.