Headhunters have started the search for a new chief executive to run one of the world’s biggest consumer products firms, it was reported today.

Unilever today said underlying sales rose 7.2% at the start of this year after the company acted to recover sharply higher costs.

CONSUMER goods giant Unilever reported underlying sales below analyst expectations yesterday and gave a lacklustre outlook for 2007, sending its shares lower.

CONSUMER goods giant Unilever reported a 4.8% jump in third-quarter underlying sales yesterday, near the top of expectations, pushing shares to an eight-month high.

Consumer products giant Unilever today said it had made good progress after underlying sales grew 4.8% in the three months to the end of September.

KERRY Group has lost out in a €1.7 billion battle to buy Birds Eye frozen foods from Unilever.

Unilever looked set to end its 63-year association with Birds Eye today after agreeing to sell most of its European frozen foods business for £1.16bn (€1.7bn).

Consumer products giant Unilever banked a 16% rise in profits today but warned of tough sales conditions in the UK and Europe.

Consumer products giant Unilever conceded today that price cuts and an advertising blitz had failed to return sales in Europe to growth.

Knorr-to-Domestos group Unilever said today its western European division needed to become competitive after second quarter profits fell 20%.

Consumer goods giant Unilever is to offload a string of famous perfume brands to American cosmetics firm Coty, it announced today.

Consumer goods giant Unilever today denied that investors were pushing for the abolition of its dual-chairman structure.

Consumer products giant Unilever dealt a fresh blow to investors today by revealing that sales of its top 400 brands shrank by 1% in the third quarter.

Dove soap to Magnum ice-cream maker Unilever today said it had strengthened its food operations in Asia by buying out a joint venture.