Unilever beats first-quarter underlying sales growth estimates
Unilever has today beaten estimates for first-quarter underlying sales growth and reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook.
The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream posted 3% underlying sales growth for the quarter ended March 31, topping analysts' expectations of a 2.8% rise.
Unilever, whose other brands include Vaseline, Hellmann's mustard and Lifebuoy, said it was confident about its full-year plans despite the global macroeconomic uncertainty.
The company said its productivity programme was ahead of plan, and is expected to deliver about £550m in savings by the end of 2025.
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Irish Post
02-06-2025
- Irish Post
How Ella and Jo became a global beauty brand
IN the crowded world of beauty and skincare, Ella & Jo stands out. Founded in 2017 by Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan, Ella & Jo has grown from a simple idea into a globally recognised Irish skincare brand. Before founding Ella & Jo, Niamh was a brand manager at Unilever and spent years travelling through the UK, Australia, and the U.S. before returning home to open her own skin clinic, Bella Beauty, which has been running for over 15 years. It was here, at the clinic, that Charlene and Niamh's paths first crossed. Charlene had forged her own path in the beauty world. 'I left college with an honours in marketing and then went on into digital marketing. I ended up setting up a really successful career in professional makeup artistry, and I worked on TV and media. My bridal makeup calendar was booked out two years in advance.' Their connection was instant. At the time, skincare wasn't the booming, consumer-friendly market it is today, and there were considerable gaps in the market. Those gaps would eventually inspire their first breakthrough product. Ella & Jo began with the Squeaky Clean Brush Cleanser. Niamh had seen firsthand in her clinic how dirty makeup brushes contributed to skin issues, while Charlene, a professional makeup artist, knew the importance of facial hygiene. 'From the very beginning up until now, everything at Ella & Jo is about consumer focus,' Charlene said. 'We never created products just for the product's sake.' For the first few years, the brand grew slowly and intentionally. 'At the time, Niamh and I had four children between the two of us. Everything was a slow drive,' Charlene said. 'But after participating in female entrepreneurship programmes, we recognised that there was something magic here.' The duo's participation in multiple programmes for entrepreneurs helped morph their small business into a multinational company. They poured their time, energy, and resources into Ella & Jo, and it paid off. 'Thankfully, we've seen incredible success to date. It's been an amazing journey.' The brand name itself is a nod to their roots: 'Ella' is inspired by Niamh's Bella Beauty clinic, and 'Jo' is a shortened version of Charlene's married surname. From the west of Ireland to the pages of Vogue (Photo by Ella and Jo) From the start, Ella & Jo has had a focus on storytelling and community. 'The community is at the heart of everything we do,' Charlene explained. 'No amount of advertising budget can ever buy that emotional connection that we've made.' That authentic relationship with their audience is also a key part of product development. 'We run surveys every 12 to 18 months with our current customer base. You would ask them, 'What would you like to see?'' Charlene said. That feedback loop has led to the creation of several standout products, including a night cream with a plant-based alternative to retinol and their innovative Invisible SPF Mist. 'We saw a gap in the market because women weren't topping up their SPF during the day because of their makeup. So we created something that solved that problem.' Ella & Jo is not only consumer-led but also deeply committed to sustainability. 'We've just been certified as a B Corp registered company,' Charlene revealed. 'There are only 66 companies in Ireland that have been B Corp approved, and that is a massive milestone.' From the beginning, the founders prioritised sustainable packaging—aluminium bottles, recyclable glass jars and minimal plastic use. They also manufacture exclusively in Ireland. From its roots in the west of Ireland, Ella & Jo has grown into a global brand, shipping to over 50 countries. 'Our online platform gave us insight into where the growth potential might be,' Charlene said. 'The UK was first in line; we saw a huge expat community there.' 'We signed on with Cat Deeley two years ago as our beauty ambassador. She had just moved from the States to the UK and adored the brand, and we worked with her to launch. That was hugely successful—our photo shoot with her was on the cover of Hello magazine.' Ella & Jo has also been featured in Vogue and has explored new markets in the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East. 'The growth is definitely there,' Charlene said. The founders are now turning their eyes toward spa recognition, developing products that bring luxury treatments into everyday routines. 'We developed products that were spa-like treatments at home. We're open to so many opportunities.' Charlene's advice for others looking to follow a similar path is clear: 'Surround yourself with people who have done it before and find the network. Find an entrepreneurship programme.' She also emphasised the importance of balance. 'Prioritise your well-being. Everybody's balance is going to look different.' 'I feel like Ella & Jo is so much more than just skincare,' Charlene said. 'We invest in storytelling. We invest in our community.' From a single brush cleanser to a globally recognised B Corp beauty brand, Ella & Jo proves that when passion meets purpose, great things can happen. See More: Beauty, Business, Charlene Flanagan, Ella And Jo, Niamh Ryan
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Unilever's Ben & Jerry's calls war in Gaza a 'genocide'
The independent board of Ben & Jerry's said the conflict in Gaza is a genocide, escalating a bitter feud between the ice cream maker and its longtime London-based corporate parent Unilever. "Ben & Jerry's believes in human rights and advocates for peace, and we join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza," the board said in a statement viewed by Reuters. "We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza - from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest." Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have been at odds since at least 2021 when the Chubby Hubby ice cream maker said it would stop selling in the Israel-occupied West Bank. Ben & Jerry's sued its owner last year over its alleged attempts to silence it on Gaza and criticise US President Donald Trump. Its statement on Gaza is unusual for a major U.S. brand. A Unilever spokesperson said that the comments reflect the views of the independent social mission board of Ben & Jerry's, and they do not speak for anyone other than themselves. "We call for peace in the region and for relief for all those whose lives have been impacted," the spokesperson said. Unilever asked a US judge to dismiss Ben & Jerry's lawsuit. The company is also in the process of separating out its ice cream business, including Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's, to an independent company this summer. Ben & Jerry's has said its year 2000 merger agreement with Unilever gave its independent board "primary responsibility" to pursue the company's social mission. The crux of the dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever is how much leeway the board actually has.
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Who is Gymshark founder Ben Francis and what is his net worth?
BEN Francis is the creator of the sportswear mega-chain Gymshark. The star was added to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2025, as his company continued to expand. 3 Ben Francis founded the sportswear company Gymshark Credit: Alamy 3 Ben is married to a fitness influencer named Robin Gallant Credit: Instagram 3 Ben shares two twin boys with Robin Credit: Instagram/@ Taking a risk Ben was born on June 4, 1992, and dropped out of Aston University to fund his dream of creating a sports brand. He worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut to fund his ambition and eventually quit after six months of running the company. The entrepreneur They based the company in a garage, while initially focusing on selling fitness supplements. READ MORE ON Rich Lists Eventually, they decided to expand their range by selling high-quality sportswear. Ben drew on his sewing skills, having been taught by his mother at a young age. After becoming a national success, he stepped down as CEO in 2016 but remained the chief brand officer and majority shareholder. Joining the rich list Ben's huge success landed him on the Most read in The Sun He is worth a staggering £726 million, with Gymshark itself being valued at over £1 billion. His company now employs more than 850 people and sells to over 100 countries worldwide. I'm a midsize gym girl & did a Gym Shark haul – the leggings were a slay & fit so well, now I'm in danger of buying more Meeting his wife Ben married his long-term girlfriend Robin Gallant on September 9, 2021. Robin was a fitness influencer and eventually became a brand representative for her husband's sportswear brand. Ben and his wife met while at a fitness expert in Robin's The pair share twin sons who were born on Christmas Eve 2022.
