33% profit growth at Unilever

The company closed the first quater with a 1.34 million euros operating profit sales grew by 7.2%, with 2.3% from volume and a 4.8% increase in price.

 Europe grew by 2.3% against a
relatively strong comparator. There was continued excellent growth in
Russia and solid performances across most of Western Europe, notably
the UK, but a weaker quarter in Germany. The Americas grew 6.4% with
sales up 4.3% in North America and 9.6% in Latin America, helped by
further positive developments in Mexico and Brazil and robust sales
elsewhere. Asia Africa grew 14.2% with double-digit increases in
almost every country in the region.

Profit increased came from the sale of
the Boursin cheese business and the extension of the Pepsi/Lipton
joint venture for ready-to-drink tea.