Unilever profit rises, but warns of 'slowing markets'

London: British consumer goods giant Unilever on Thursday announced a small rise in annual profits having spun off its ice cream division, as it warned of "slower market conditions" for 2026. Net profit from brands retained at the end of 2025 climbed 4.6% to ₹5.7 billion ($6.8 billion) last year, Unilever said in a statement. Group revenue decreased 3.8% to ₹50.5 billion year-on-year. "In 2025 we became a simpler, sharper, and faster Unilever," chief executive Fernando Fernandez said in a statement.

"We are moving at speed to build a business that drives desire at scale in our brands, execution excellence across all channels and cost discipline." Fernandez said that "despite slowing markets, our sharper focus and disciplined execution underpin our confidence for 2026 and beyond". Unilever completed the demerger of Magnum Ice Cream, which includes the Ben & Jerry's brand, in December. Unilever, whose major brands include Dove soap, is undergoing a turnaround to boost its performance.