Unilever reports 39 percent increase in second quarter net profit

On Thursday August 5, 2010, 2:35 am

Unilever NV says second quarter net profit rose 39 percent, beating analyst expectations, as the maker of Lipton tea, Dove soap and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream continued its push to increase sales volumes.

 

The consumer products maker said Thursday that net profit in the three months to June was euro1.15 billion ($1.52 billion), compared with euro833 million in the same period a year earlier.

 

Revenue rose 12.4 percent to euro11.75 billion.

 

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had predicted net profit of euro1 billion on sales of euro10.22 billion.

 

The company has been seeking to take market share and boost sales against bigger rivals Procter & Gamble Co. and Nestle SA by slashing prices.