Grocery giants Unilever, Reckitt, and Danone hike consumer prices to keep up with inflation

Some investors seek new strategy to offset a decline in sales volumes

Unilever this week beat underlying sales growth forecasts after again raising prices to offset higher costs. 

European consumer products makers including Unilever and Reckitt have shown they can raise prices to cope with higher costs, but investors say they want to see more innovation to drive dwindling sales volumes.

Major consumer goods companies — from Nestle to P&G — have managed sharp rises in input costs that began with the pandemic and worsened after Russia's invasion of Ukraine by passing them on to retailers and shoppers.