Unilever reports strong growth for third quarter of 2015

Unilever has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2015, during which it recorded a turnover figure of 13.4 billion euros (9.7 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, including a positive currency impact of 2.9 percent, with underlying sales growth of 5.7 percent. Its emerging markets underlying sales growth was particularly strong at 8.4 percent.

Though global economic trends remain soft, the company is maintaining its momentum through continuous cost management efforts and investment in agility improvements, allowing it to bolster performance of its four key categories of personal care, foods, refreshment and home care.

It now expects underlying sales growth for the full year towards the upper end of the two to four percent range.

Paul Polman, chief executive officer at Unilever, said: "Our model of competitive, profitable, consistent and responsible growth is built on sustained investment in our brands, infrastructure and people."

Unilever also announced this week that it has become a zero landfill company in Europe, demonstrating the sustainability improvements it continues to make alongside its financial achievements.