Sales of personal hygiene products fell in last three months: Unilever

LONDON: A consumer goods giant Unilever has reported the sales of shampoo and deodorant fell in the last three months.

It said it had seen strong “growth in-home consumption of foods, ice cream, and tea” during the lockdown. However, there had been fewer personal care occasions from going to work or socialising.

However, it said that the sales of some cleaning products, such as hand sanitiser, had soared as people stepped up efforts to battle COVID-19. The company had warned about shrinking personal care sales at its last trading update in April.

According to the company, more people worked from home, they were washing their hair less often, putting off shaving and even ditching deodorant. Four months on, it said personal care sales had continued to slump.

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However, it reported increased demand for household cleaning products, such as surface cleaners due to the spread of coronavirus.  However, people buying more food to eat at home, the company saw double-digit growth in its retail foods business, with noodles, and in sauces.