Global brands see Irish growth during pandemic

Profits and revenues at two Irish units of global consumer product giants last year increased during the first phases of the Covid-19 pandemic.

New accounts show that the Irish arm of consumer product multinational Unilever increased its pretax profits by 35 per cent last year to €16.16 million.

This came as Unilever Ireland Ltd grew its revenues by 3 per cent from €209.95 million to €216.1 million. The accounts cover the first 10 months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unilever's brands include Hellman's, Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, Domestos, Dove, Colman's, Cornetto, Comfort, Persil, Radox and Knorr.

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The directors of Unilever Ireland noted that the outbreak of Covid-19 had been managed appropriately with the safety and health of its staff being prioritised while commercial opportunities have also been realised.

The directors said the business is well placed to be competitive in Ireland in future years.

Unilever commenced a strategic review of its tea business in January 2020 and aims to create a standalone tea business during the second half of this year.

Cadbury

Separate accounts lodged by the maker of Cadbury chocolate, Mondelez Ireland, show the company last year increased its pretax profits by 10 per cent to €1.5 million.

Revenues at the company increasing by 3 per cent from €198.76 million to €204.73 million in the 12 months to the end of December last.

The directors said Mondelez “continues to gain market share within Ireland”.

The accounts disclose that on November 27th last, Mondelez Ireland paid its immediate parent, Kraft Foods Schweiz Holdings a dividend of €100 million.

The directors noted that revenues last year were grown “by launching new product innovation, building brand awareness through media campaigns, increasingly using new social media platforms and working with customers in building the categories we work in”.

The directors said the market continues to be challenging in all of its markets: confectionery, cheese, bakery and grocery.