Unilever stumbles on Path to Growth

CONSUMER products giant Unilever was in danger of seeing its flagship Path to Growth strategy fall flat today after sales of key brands stalled.

Unilever, led by Irishman Niall FitzGerald, shocked investors with a 0.2% fall in second quarter sales for its 400 leading products, which includes Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Dove Soap.

Price competition, weak consumer confidence on the continent and the impact on comparable figures of strong ice cream sales last year were blamed by Unilever, which saw shares fall by as much as 5% today.