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Unilever Q1 sales rise 5.7%, will acquire supplements company Onnit

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May 3, 2021

Unilever, a multinational company that owns Breyers, Lipton, Hellmann's and Knorr brands, saw sales rise 5.7% compared to Q1 2020, according to a press release, with 4.7% underlying growth. In the foods and refreshments sector, in-home sales rose 11% while out-of-home sales rose 4% versus Q1

"We are driving the evolution of our portfolio, with strong growth in prestige beauty and functional nutrition," CEO Alan Jope said in a prepared statement. "The operational separation of our tea business is on track. We are confident that we will deliver underlying sales growth in 2021 within our multi-year framework of 3-5%, with the first half around the top of this range.

"We expect to increase underlying operating margins slightly for the full year, though with a decline in the first half driven by COVID-19 impacts, higher cost inflation and increased marketing spend over the prior year."

The 5.7% sales gain surpassed analyst estimates average forecast of 3.9%, according to Reuters.

Shares traded today at $59.27 against a 52-week range of $49.75-$63.89.

Unilever has also agreed to acquire Onnit, a holistic wellness and lifestyle company, based in Austin, Texas, for an undisclosed sum, according to a press release.

Onnit, founded in 2010, provides supplements to provide improved cognitive function, mood and relaxation, gut health and immunity support. The range includes Onnit's hero product, Alpha Brain, a brain supplement for better memory, focus and mental processing.

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