Core Viewpoint - The new CEO, Peter ter Kulve, supports the Make America Healthy Again movement, advocating for higher-quality foods while the company continues to sell high-calorie products [1] Group 1 - The company is undergoing leadership change with Peter ter Kulve as the new CEO [1] - The CEO's alignment with health initiatives indicates a potential shift in company strategy towards healthier food options [1] - Despite endorsing healthier food movements, the company still markets high-calorie products, highlighting a possible conflict in its product offerings [1]

Unilever is to further invest in a factory in the Polish city of Poznań. According to the FMCG food giant, it is looking to introduce “advanced automation” and optimise “logistics processes” at the production site. The investment is set to cost nearly 100m zlotys ($27.5m) and includes plans to build a fully automated high-bay warehouse with a capacity of 9,600 pallets and a new dispatch hall that will serve as a loading and unloading hub. Unilever said the main construction phase started this week and b ...

Core Viewpoint - Unilever has announced the sale of its health snack brand Graze to Katjes International, with the transaction expected to be completed in the first half of 2026 [1] Group 1 - The Graze brand will be integrated into the UK-based Candy Kittens group following the sale [1]

Core Insights - Unilever has officially announced the sale of its health snack brand Graze to Katjes International, with the deal expected to be completed by mid-2026 [2] - The sale is part of a strategic shift under new CEO Fernando Fernandez, focusing on higher-margin beauty, personal care, and health products [3] Group 1: Company Strategy - The divestment of Graze aligns with Unilever's broader strategy to streamline its portfolio, having previously announced the sale of its ice cream business and plans to dispose of nearly €8 billion in food operations [3] - Unilever's recent actions include selling its Italian pasta sauce retail business and the vegetarian brand The Vegetarian Butcher, indicating a trend towards reducing its food segment [3] Group 2: Financial Performance - Unilever's financial performance has been declining, with 2023 sales at €59.6 billion, a decrease of 0.8%, and net profit down 13.7% to €7.1 billion [4] - In 2024, sales increased slightly to €60.8 billion, a 1.9% rise, but net profit fell to €6.4 billion, down 10.8% [4] - The first three quarters of 2025 saw sales of €44.8 billion, marking a 3.3% decline, the first negative growth in three years [4] Group 3: Market Challenges - The sale of non-core businesses is seen as a way for Unilever to quickly raise funds and focus on high-margin areas, which is essential for long-term growth [4] - However, the company faces challenges such as potential market confidence issues, internal management complexities, and the competitive nature of the beauty and health markets [4]

An audit of the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit solely funded by the brand, found that it had deficiencies in financial controls and governance, according to Magnum, the Unilever uni... ...

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming global consumer goods companies, particularly in product design, factory management, and marketing campaigns, leading to a shift towards data-driven and automated operations [1] Group 1: AI in Product Development - Companies in the personal care sector, such as Unilever, are adopting AI to shorten development cycles, reduce waste, and respond quickly to demand shifts [2] - Unilever is utilizing digital simulation to replace parts of its traditional formulation process, which speeds up early-stage research and reduces the number of lab trials needed for new products [3] - AI is employed to evaluate sensory reactions and consumer preferences, allowing for adjustments to prototypes earlier in the development process [4] - Unilever aggregates internal datasets to identify patterns that influence formulation decisions, aligning with a broader industry trend of using machine learning to manage larger product portfolios [5] Group 2: AI for Operational Efficiency - Unilever is implementing AI in its factories, reporting an 8% increase in overall equipment effectiveness and a 20% reduction in waste at its Hefei, China plant [6] - AI-driven tools are being tested for safety monitoring in facilities, enhancing compliance reporting and providing early visibility into equipment issues [7] Group 3: AI in Marketing and Campaign Management - Unilever's marketing teams are leveraging AI to accelerate creative production, generating over 100 assets in three days for a recent product launch [8] - The company uses digital twins to standardize product imagery for global campaigns, reducing the need for repeated photo shoots [9] - AI models support media planning and audience targeting, helping to segment audiences and sequence messages based on digital behavior [10]

As a CEO coach, I’ve witnessed many times when activists have orchestrated the ousting of a chief executive, often with a board that is anything but surprised. Behind closed doors, I’ve had many directors tell me they quietly agreed with a transition. These activist investors secretly strike terror in the hearts of boards and CEOs, seeking to profit quickly by buying stakes in companies to influence management and strategic decisions. Their goal is to unlock shareholder value that the activists claim is tra ...

Core Points - Unilever is selling its British snack brand Graze to Katjes International, which owns Candy Kittens, for an undisclosed amount [1] - This move is part of Unilever's strategy to exit certain non-core businesses [1] Company Summary - Unilever aims to streamline its portfolio by divesting brands that do not align with its core business strategy [1] - Katjes International is expanding its presence in the snack market through this acquisition [1] Industry Summary - The consumer goods sector is witnessing consolidation as companies like Unilever focus on core brands and divest non-essential assets [1] - The acquisition by Katjes International indicates a growing interest in the snack segment, particularly in healthier or niche products [1]

Core Insights - German confectionery group Katjes is in advanced talks to acquire snack brand Graze from Unilever for approximately £35 million ($46.2 million) [1] - Unilever had previously acquired Graze in 2019 for around £150 million from The Carlyle Group [1][2] - Unilever is currently evaluating the potential sale of several UK brands, including Marmite, Colman's, and Bovril, as part of a strategy to streamline its portfolio for long-term growth [2] Group 1 - Katjes has a history of acquiring UK businesses, including the gluten-free baked goods firm Genius Foods in 2022 and a majority stake in vegan-confectionery business Candy Kittens in 2019 [4] - The acquisition of Graze aligns with Katjes' strategy to expand its presence in the UK snack market [1][4] - Unilever's recent divestitures, including the sale of its pasta sauce range in Germany and the meat-free brand The Vegetarian Butcher, indicate a broader trend of portfolio optimization [3][2] Group 2 - The deal for Graze is part of Unilever's ongoing efforts to focus on fewer, larger brands to enhance scalability and growth potential [2] - Katjes' recent acquisition of a 25% stake in German cookie-dough business SD Sugar Daddies further demonstrates its commitment to expanding its product offerings [3] - The potential sale of Graze reflects Unilever's strategic shift towards refining its brand portfolio amidst changing market dynamics [2][3]

Group 1: Southern Company - Southern Company reported a strong performance in the latest quarter, with revenues increasing by 5% year-over-year to $6.5 billion [1] - The company is focusing on expanding its renewable energy portfolio, aiming for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 [1] - Southern Company plans to invest $20 billion in infrastructure improvements over the next five years to enhance service reliability [1] Group 2: RTX Corp - RTX Corp experienced a revenue growth of 8% in the last quarter, reaching $17 billion, driven by increased demand in the aerospace sector [1] - The company is prioritizing research and development, allocating $1.5 billion to innovative technologies in the upcoming fiscal year [1] - RTX Corp's backlog of orders has increased by 15% compared to the previous year, indicating strong future demand [1] Group 3: Unilever PLC ADR - Unilever PLC ADR reported a 4% increase in sales, totaling $15 billion, attributed to strong performance in emerging markets [1] - The company is committed to sustainability, with plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2039 [1] - Unilever's new product lines have contributed to a 10% growth in market share in the personal care segment [1]