Food giant Unilever cushioned by at-home eating during Covid-19 crisis    

Breyers, Magnum and Klondike ice-cream, along with Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr soups, were strong performers in food sales. File Photo: Eddie O'Hare

Second-quarter sales at Unilever fell much less than expected as a pick-up in eating at home during coronavirus lockdowns boosted demand for products such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise and its ice cream.

Shares in the consumer goods giant rose 8%, as the Anglo-Dutch group surprised analysts who had expected a much bigger hit to sales from the closure of restaurants, schools, cinemas, and outside venues.