By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Unilever has announced plans to reduce a third of its office based roles in Europe by the end of 2025. This decision follows the company’s March announcement to cut costs, affecting approximately 7,500 positions worldwide. The consumer goods giant will initiate a consultation process with those impacted by the cuts in Europe, where around 3,200 jobs will be eliminated.
"We acknowledge the significant anxiety these proposals are causing among our people," Unilever stated. These changes aim to boost growth under the leadership of CEO Hein Schumacher, who took over last year following a period of underperformance. The specific locations for the job cuts have not been disclosed. Unilever has significant offices in London and Rotterdam, having maintained dual headquarters in these cities before consolidating its legal structure in the UK in 2020, a move that was initially said not to affect staffing.
Hermann Soggeberg, head of Unilever’s European Works Council, described the measures as "the biggest job cuts in Unilever for decades" in a letter to employees. A Unilever spokesperson added that the company had launched a comprehensive productivity programme in March to create a leaner, more accountable organisation focused on growth.
As part of this restructuring, Unilever plans to separate its ice cream business, which includes brands like Wall's, Ben & Jerry's, and Magnum, aiming to "do fewer things better." In the UK, Unilever employs 6,000 staff and produces various products including ice cream in north east Gloucestershire, Marmite and Bovril in Burton on Trent, and Pot Noodles in Newport. Jack Martin, a portfolio manager at Oberon Investments, commented that a turnaround was clearly necessary for the underperforming business from a shareholder's perspective. Unilever, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, owns brands such as Dove, Persil, and Lynx.
In May, Unilever issued an apology after soapy water was mistakenly diverted from its soap powder factory into an already polluted river, leading to a report to the UK's Environment Agency.
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