Unilever raises prices 2.3% in third quarter to offset higher energy and commodity costs
Unilever said prices added 2.3% to third-quarter sales, as it offset higher commodity costs linked to the Iran war. It also raised its 2026 volume growth guidance.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Unilever said on Wednesday 28 October that prices rose by 2.3% in the third quarter, as it moved to offset higher commodity costs linked to the Iran war. City A.M.RC “its prices rose by 2.3 per cent in its third quarter” Read at City A.M. ↗ Evening StandardN “of which 2.3% was due to higher prices” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Underlying sales grew 5.2% in the three months to 30 September; City A.M. reported that volume growth slowed from 5.5% to 2.9%. Evening StandardN “underlying sales grew by 5.2% in the three months to September 30” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “its volume growth slowed from 5.5 to 2.9 per cent” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Chief executive Fernando Fernandez said the company had delivered "another quarter of competitive growth, led by continued strong volume delivery and a step up in price to offset the impact of higher commodity costs". City A.M.RC “We have delivered another quarter of competitive growth” Read at City A.M. ↗ Evening StandardN “a step-up in price to offset the impact of higher commodity costs” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1City A.M. said the company has faced higher costs since oil prices surged after the Iran war began, pushing up ingredient and shipping costs. City A.M.RC “pushing up ingredient and shipping costs” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard said home and personal care products saw particular increases, and noted that Reckitt Benckiser had said a day earlier that its prices rose 4% across Europe in the quarter. Evening StandardN “with home and personal care products seeing increases in particular”“with prices rising by 4% across Europe in the third quarter” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Unilever raised its outlook, now expecting volume growth of "at least" 3% for 2026 (previously around 3%) and underlying sales growth of about 5% in the second half (previously 4% to 5%). Evening StandardN “it now expects “at least” a 3% increase over 2026 as a whole”“compared with previous guidance of between 4% and 5%” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1By division, home care sales rose 9%, beauty and wellbeing 5.7% and personal care 6.3%, while food grew just 0.1% to $3.1bn; Unilever said it is making targeted price cuts on US condiments amid stronger competition. City A.M.RC “Sales surged by nine per cent in the group’s home care arm”“Unilever said it is making targeted price cuts to boost sales of these products.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Right · 1Developed-market sales fell 0.9%, including a 1.7% fall in Europe that Unilever blamed on a "soft market environment"; emerging markets grew 9.5%, with volumes up 6% and prices up 3.3%. City A.M.RC “a 0.9 per cent drop in sales in its developed markets”“Volumes grew by six per cent while prices rose by 3.3 per cent across these markets.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2The food business is being combined with US firm McCormick under a deal announced in March, which City A.M. valued at $45bn and the Evening Standard at £33.8bn; completion is expected by mid-2027, and Unilever said regulatory filings were submitted on schedule. City A.M.RC “is expected to complete in the middle of next year” Read at City A.M. ↗ Evening StandardN “with filings submitted on schedule and clear momentum across jurisdictions”“The £33.8 billion deal, which was announced in March” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1Analysts at RBC Capital Markets called the quarter "decent", saying emerging markets and home care offset weak growth in developed markets and food, but that the food business is still "dragging down group performance". City A.M.RC “The reality is that it (and by extension its shareholders) still own a food business that is dragging down group performance” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents Unilever as the latest firm to raise prices amid the Iran war, alongside Reckitt, and stresses the raised outlook.
- Emphasis
- Guidance upgrade, Reckitt comparison, food deal separation progress.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover the divisional breakdown, volume slowdown or analyst comment.
- Charged language
- “hiking”“soar”
- For example
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“Unilever has become the latest firm to reveal price hikes to offset soaring costs amid the Iran war.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on Unilever hiking prices as energy costs surge, with detail on slowing volumes, divisional and regional performance and the drag from food.
- Emphasis
- Divisional and regional sales, slowing volume growth, weak food business, analyst view.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the raised full-year guidance.
- Charged language
- “hikes”“surge”
- For example
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“Dove owner Unilever hiked its prices over the summer as it looked to offset rising energy costs caused by the Iran war.” — City A.M.
What every side reports
- Unilever's prices added 2.3% to third-quarter sales.
- The price rise was to offset higher commodity costs linked to the Iran war.
- Chief executive Fernando Fernandez made the same statement about a 'step up in price'.
- The food business deal with McCormick is expected to complete around mid-2027.
Where accounts differ
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Structure and value of the McCormick food deal
- Centre
- The Evening Standard describes a £33.8bn deal splitting food into a joint venture with McCormick.
- Right
- City A.M. describes Unilever agreeing to offload its food arm to McCormick for $45bn.
Unilever organisation
Says it delivered competitive growth led by volume and a step up in price to offset commodity costs, and that the food separation is on track.
“a step up in price to offset the impact of higher commodity costs” — City A.M.
“reinforcing our confidence in a timely closing” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Unilever hiking prices as commodity costs soar amid Iran conflict
Neutral Reports price rises as part of a wider trend among household goods firms while noting the upgraded outlook.
Right1 article
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Dove owner Unilever hikes prices as energy costs surge
Mixed Reports the price rise and mixed segment performance, ending on an analyst's criticism of the food drag.
- 28 Oct 08:16 First City A.M.RC Dove owner Unilever hikes prices as energy costs surge
- 28 Oct 09:11 +55m Evening StandardN Unilever hiking prices as commodity costs soar amid Iran conflict
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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