What’s behind Unilever’s first quarter results?

Unilever’s first quarter 2026 results show underlying sales growth (USG) of 3.8% with underlying volume growth (UVG) of 2.9%. There was broad-based growth across categories, with Power Brands leading performance at 5.0% USG and 4.0% UVG.

Here are the results highlights from each of our four business groups.

Beauty & Wellbeing

Hair Care

Hair Care grew high-single digit, led by volume. This was driven by continued momentum in Dove, which delivered double-digit growth following the 2025 launch of its Fibre Repair technology range. Performance was further supported by double-digit growth in India, and by sequential improvement and a return to volume growth in both Sunsilk and Clear. Our prestige brand K18 delivered another quarter of strong volume-led growth. This was partially offset by the impact of delisting some unprofitable hair care brands in the US in 2025 as we increasingly focus our portfolio on our Power Brands.

Skin Care

Skin Care grew low-single digit. Continued good momentum in the US, with mid-single digit growth, and in Vaseline, which delivered double-digit volume growth supported by premium innovations including the launch of Gluta-Hya Lip Serum Gloss, was offset by softer performance in Asia Pacific Africa. Prestige growth was led by strong performances in Hourglass, Tatcha and Dermalogica.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing declined low-single digit, impacted by a very strong comparator in the first quarter. Olly grew double-digit supported by strong digital growth and distribution gains. We expect Wellbeing performance to improve as actions to increase Liquid I.V. usage occasions and optimise Nutrafol’s customer conversion gain traction.

Personal Care

Deodorants

Deodorants grew mid-single digit, with balanced volume and price. Performance was driven by double-digit growth in Dove, continued scaling of Whole Body Deodorants and sequential improvement in Rexona and Axe. Deodorants returned to growth in Latin America as actions to improve format mix in Brazil continued to gain traction.

Skin Cleansing

Skin Cleansing grew mid-single digit, with positive volume and price. Growth was driven by North America and emerging markets, partially offset by a decline in Europe. Dove continued to lead growth, supported by the strength of its premium body serum ranges.

Oral Care

Oral Care was flat, with growth in Asia Pacific Africa offset by subdued market conditions in Europe.

Home Care

Fabric Cleaning

Fabric Cleaning grew mid-single digit, led by double-digit growth in our premium liquids portfolio and a return to growth in powders. In India, our market leadership strengthened further as liquids continued to deliver double-digit growth. Brazil returned to positive volume growth with good momentum following corrective actions, including on price gaps, taken in the second half of 2025.

Home & Hygiene

Home & Hygiene grew mid-single digit, with mid-single digit volume growth. Cif delivered double-digit growth as its Infinite Clean range continued to perform well, supported by new variants and expansion into additional markets.

Fabric Enhancers

Fabric Enhancers grew mid-single digit, led by volume. Performance was driven by high-single digit volume-led growth in Comfort.

Foods

Cooking Aids

Cooking Aids grew low-single digit, led by price. Performance was driven by strong growth in Asia Pacific Africa, where volume grew mid-single digit. Knorr grew low-single digit with positive volume and price.

Condiments

Condiments delivered low-single digit growth led by volume across both emerging and developed markets. Hellmann’s remained the key growth driver, with mid-single digit volume growth supported by premium, flavour-led innovation, including new flavours and pack formats across both emerging and developed markets.

Unilever Food Solutions

Unilever Food Solutions grew low-single digit led by volume. This reflected a better start to the year in China, its largest market, with low-single digit growth supported by improved trading over the Chinese New Year period and gradual improvement in away-from-home consumption. North America continued to perform well, with low-single digit volume-led growth.

Frequently asked questions

• Why is Unilever combining its Foods business with McCormick?

  Unilever is combining its Foods business with McCormick to create a $20 billion scaled global flavour powerhouse with a stronger growth profile, while transforming Unilever into a more focused €39 billion pure‑play Home Care, Personal Care and Beauty (HPC) company with increased exposure to higher-growth categories, faster‑growing geographies and premium digital channels.

• What is Unilever’s full-year 2026 outlook?

  Unilever’s full‑year 2026 outlook is unchanged, with underlying sales growth expected at the bottom end of its 4% to 6% multi‑year guidance range. The company expects at least 2% underlying volume growth for the year and a modest improvement in underlying operating margin compared with 20.0% in 2025.

• What was Unilever’s Q1 2026 performance by region?

  In Q1 2026, Unilever’s growth was led by emerging markets, which delivered 5.7% underlying sales growth driven primarily by 4.2% volume growth, including strong performance in India (7%), Latin America (6.2%), China and Indonesia. Developed markets remained resilient with 1.0% underlying sales growth, led by North America and supported by Personal Care and Beauty, partly offset by softer European conditions.