Unilever fourth-quarter sales boosted by higher prices

Unilever Plc on Thursday reported quarterly underlying sales growth above expectations, helped by higher prices for its detergents, soaps and packaged food.

The London-based company said it expects cost inflation to continue in 2023, forecasting net material inflation in the first half of around 1.5 billion euros.

The packaged goods industry has raised prices sharply over the past year to cope with surging costs of everything from cocoa and sunflower oil to wheat. The industry had already been battling high Covid-era supply chain and raw material expenses when Russia invaded Ukraine, driving up the prices of energy and several other commodities.

"In the first half, underlying price growth will remain high, and volume growth will be negative," Unilever said in a statement. "Volume will improve as price growth softens, but it is too early to say whether volume will turn positive in the second half."

Some companies in Europe have said they may unwind price hikes introduced in recent years as soaring costs of energy and other raw materials have eased, potentially providing some relief to consumers.

Read | Unilever leads pack on price rises as consumer goods industry squeezed

Unilever has had a dramatic past year, featuring three rejected bids to buy GSK's consumer health business, activist Nelson Peltz joining its board and Chief Executive Alan Jope announcing his departure. At the end of last month, it named dairy executive Hein Schumacher as its incoming CEO.

Schumacher faces a battle to revive Unilever's underperforming food business, while also managing tricky price negotiations with retailers feeling the squeeze from inflationary pressures and a cost of living crisis.

Underlying sales at Unilever rose 9.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, beating company-provided analyst estimate of a 8.2 per cent increase.

($1 = 0.9316 euros)