Ice-cream boosts Unilever sales

Strong sales of ice-cream helped Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum maker Unilever whip up a strong start to the year, the consumer products giant said today.

Unilever reported underlying sales up by 3.6% across the UK and Europe as demand strengthened ahead of the main ice-cream season.

The group said the UK also continued its return to growth thanks to good sales of tea, including well-known tea brand PG Tips.

Merseyside-based Unilever posted a 2.1% rise in first quarter turnover on the year before, at €3.54bn.