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Our financial results for the first quarter of 2025, which we announced on 24 April, show that we’ve started the year with a resilient performance.
Underlying sales growth of 3% reflects the strength of our increasingly premium and innovation-led portfolio in developed markets. We have interventions in place in some emerging markets to step up growth in the remainder of the year.
Here are the results highlights from each of our five business groups.
Beauty & Wellbeing underlying sales grew 4.1% with 2.5% from volume and 1.5% from price. Growth was driven by strong Wellbeing performance that was partially offset by a slower beauty market.
Hair Care was flat with low-single digit price offset by a low-single digit volume decline. Dove grew mid-single digit, supported by its relaunch with cutting-edge fibre repair technology, new packaging and design. Our largest hair care brand, Sunsilk, was flat as it lapped a strong double-digit growth comparator and faced some destocking in Brazil. Nexxus grew strong double-digit, which was supported by the launch of its HY-Volume range. Clear declined as market growth remained challenged in its primary market, China.
Core Skin Care grew low-single digit driven by low-single digit volume. Both Vaseline and Dove continued to grow double-digit, supported by the roll-outs of Vaseline’s Pro Derma Ceramide range and Dove’s body serums across the Americas. Pond’s launched its new Ultra Light Biome range across Asia which uses its cera-hyamino technology to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
Wellbeing delivered strong double-digit growth, led by Liquid I.V. and Nutrafol. Liquid I.V. continued to gain share in fast-growing digital channels, supported by successful multi-year innovations such as its sugar-free variant. Olly grew well with double-digit volume driven by a strong performance in digital channels.
Prestige Beauty declined low-single digit, reflecting the slowdown in the beauty market. Hourglass and Tatcha continued to grow double-digit while Paula’s Choice and Dermalogica declined. K18, a premium biotech hair care brand, grew strong double-digit and it has been included in underlying sales growth from February 2025.
Personal Care underlying sales grew 5.1% with 2.7% from volume and 2.4% from price.
Dove, which represents around 40% of Personal Care’s turnover, grew high-single digit with high-single digit volume and positive price. This growth was driven by the continued success and roll-out of Dove’s Serum Shower Collection and whole-body deodorants. Dove’s performance was also supported by its Super Bowl advertising campaign.
Deodorants grew mid-single digit with balanced volume and price. This was led by Dove, which grew double-digit volume, with strong results in North America. Rexona was flat while Axe declined low-single digit as both brands faced challenges due to their large footprints in Latin America where there was economic pressure during the quarter.
Skin Cleansing grew low-single digit, driven by positive volume and price. Dove led this growth with strong performances in North America and Europe. The brand’s success was supported by Dove Men+Care, which introduced a new range of premium naturals and relaunched its core range with updated packaging and design. Lux grew low-single digit while Lifebuoy declined, due to poor performance in Indonesia, China and India. In India, Lifebuoy was relaunched with an elevated proposition for skin protection.
Oral Care grew mid-single digit led by price. Closeup grew high-single digit and benefited from the launch of its whitening range across markets in Asia, while Pepsodent grew mid-single digit.
Home Care underlying sales grew 0.9% with 1.0% from volume and flat price.
Fabric Cleaning declined low-single digit with a low-single digit decline in volume. Growth was impacted by challenging market conditions in Brazil, where very high real interest rates led to some retailer destocking. In India, volumes grew mid-single digit while deflationary conditions resulted in increased promotional intensity and price reductions in the market. Europe grew high-single digit, driven by the success of multi-year innovation platforms, including the continued expansion of Persil Wonder Wash which introduced new variants, Colour and Sensitive, and entered new markets.
Home & Hygiene grew mid-single digit with balanced volume and price. Domestos grew mid-single digit while Cif grew high-single digit. At the end of the quarter, Cif launched its new Infinite Clean range powered by probiotics that break down dirt and grime for up to three days.
Fabric Enhancers grew high-single digit driven by high-single digit volume. Comfort continued to grow well with strong volume as it expanded the successful Botanicals and Elixir ranges launched last year.
Foods underlying sales grew 1.6% with -1.1% from volume and 2.7% from price.
Cooking Aids grew low-single digit driven by price. Knorr grew low-single digit as it continued to enhance its leadership in Bouillon with new flavours and the relaunch of its core Chicken & Beef powder.
Condiments grew low-single digit with positive volume and price. Hellmann’s grew mid-single digit with positive volume and price. This growth was led by the flavoured mayo range, now available in 30 markets. In the first quarter, several new variants were launched, including Ranch in the US and Flamin’ Hot in Mexico. In North America, Hellmann’s launched a better-for-you avocado oil variant and a new range of Mayo Dips designed to complement barbeque favourites.
Unilever Food Solutions was flat. In China, Unilever Food Solutions’ largest market, sales declined as it lapped strong double-digit growth from the prior year which benefited from the later Chinese New Year. In North America, growth was mid-single digit, driven by continued customer expansion through Hellmann’s food solution ranges.
India Foods declined low-single digit, as growth in Beverages was fully offset by a decline in Horlicks.
Ice Cream underlying sales grew 4.0% with 1.8% from volume and 2.2% from price. The positive performance reflects strong innovations and the continued improvement in our operations as we approach the summer season.
In-home Ice Cream (approximately 60% of total Ice Cream sales) delivered mid-single digit growth with positive volume and price. Out-of-home Ice Cream (around 40% of total Ice Cream sales) grew low-single digit driven by price.
Magnum grew mid-single digit supported by the introduction of its Utopia range, featuring new flavours, Double Cherry and Double Hazelnut. Yasso grew double-digit and expanded its Poppables and Bars ranges to new flavours.
This quarter saw the roll-out and introduction of several premium products, including further expansion of Magnum Bon Bons into additional European markets, the launch of Cornetto’s Disk cones in Europe and Australia, and Ben & Jerry’s launch of a larger, shareable size and new Sundae flavours.
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