LONDON and ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS -- (Marketwire) -- 05/07/09 --

SOLID START TO 2009 WITH 4.8% ORGANIC GROWTH


Key Financials (unaudited, at current rates)         First Quarter 2009

Turnover (EUR million)                              9,505            -1%


Operating profit (EUR million)                      1,234           -32%

Operating profit before RDIs* (EUR million)         1,392            -2%


Net profit (EUR million)                              803           -43%

Net profit before RDIs* (EUR million)                 917           -13%


Earnings per share (EUR)                             0.26           -44%

Earnings per share before RDIs* (EUR)                0.30           -13%

* RDIs: Restructuring, disposals and other
one-off items





Note: operating profit in the first quarter of 2008 included profits on
disposal of EUR 517 million pre-tax.


Highlights

  - Underlying sales growth of 4.8% with 6.8% coming from carry-over
    pricing and volumes lower by 1.8%.
    Turnover 0.7% below last year including currency movements (-2.0%)
    and disposals/acquisitions (-3.3%).

  - All categories grew, with the top 13 'billion euro' brands showing
    faster pick-up, being among the first to benefit from the
    increased customer and consumer focus.

  - Developing and Emerging markets holding up, with double-digit
    growth. Improved performance in the US.  Underlying
    sales down in Western Europe in continued challenging market
    conditions.

  - Operating margin before RDIs down by 30 basis points
    reflecting the dilution from the impact of disposals. Gross margin
    down by 190 basis points as a result of commodity cost increases,
    including currency effects. Advertising and promotions lower by 110
    basis points, driven by efficiencies and, especially, innovation
    phasing. Overheads reduced by 50 basis points, boosted by
    accelerating savings programmes.

  - Earnings per share before RDIs down 13%, mainly reflecting dilution
    from disposals, the finance charge for pensions and a higher tax
    rate compared with a particularly low rate last year.

  - Strong A+ balance sheet allowed for issuance of USD 1.5 billion and
    GBP 0.35 billion of bonds at very competitive rates.


Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer:  "First quarter results were
solid given today's trading environment, with growth of 4.8% and
underlying margins maintained, before dilution from disposals. We
have made good progress implementing plans to reignite volume growth,
building on existing strengths and correcting competitive gaps. We will
further step up innovation and brand support from the second quarter
and expect this to drive an improved volume performance.  This will be
achieved while protecting cash and margins for the year."


7 May 2009



In the following commentary we report underlying sales growth
(abbreviated to 'USG' or 'growth') at constant exchange rates,
excluding the effects of acquisitions and disposals. Turnover includes
the impact of exchange rates, acquisitions and disposals. Unilever
uses'constant rate' and 'underlying' measures primarily for internal
performance analysis and targeting purposes. We also comment on trends
in operating margins before RDIs (restructuring, disposals, and other
one-off items).  We may also discuss net debt, for which we provide an
analysis in the notes to the financial statements.  Unilever believes
that such measures provide additional information for shareholders on
underlying business performance trends. Such measures are not defined
under IFRS and are not intended to be a substitute for GAAP measures of
turnover, operating margin, profit, EPS and cash flow. Please refer
also to note 2 to the financial statements. Further information
about certain of these measures is available on our website
at www.unilever.com/investorrelations



OPERATIONAL REVIEW

                                    Underlying
                          Turnover       Sales
                      EUR millions    Growth %        Volume %  Price %

Asia Africa CEE              3,575        9.5%           -0.9%    10.5%

Americas                     3,156        7.2%           -1.0%     8.3%

Western Europe               2,774       -2.8%           -3.7%     1.0%

Unilever Total               9,505        4.8%           -1.8%     6.8%

Savoury, dressings & spreads 3,312        2.9%

Ice cream & beverages        1,664        4.3%

Personal care                2,807        4.0%

Home care & other            1,722       10.7%

Unilever Total               9,505        4.8%



REGIONS


Asia Africa CEE  + 9.5%:  Underlying sales growth was again broad-based
across all major developing and emerging countries. Despite the strong
price increases taken last year, and slowing economies, consumption of
our categories has continued to grow in both volume and value. There
was further trade de-stocking in the quarter in a number of countries.


We have begun the implementation of a regional supply chain centre,
based in Singapore, following the successful model adopted for Europe.
We continue to build our presence in Russia, one of our strategic
priorities, with the announcement of the acquisition of Baltimor,
the market leader in ketchup. This follows the acquisition of Inmarko
last year which gave us leadership in ice cream and which continues to
exceed expectations.


The operating margin before RDIs was up by 170 basis points.

The Americas  + 7.2%:    Underlying sales continued to grow strongly
with volumes improved quarter to quarter through most of the region. In
the US underlying sales grew 3.8% and our consumer business returned to
positive volume growth.  US foodservice was down mainly due to the exit
from unbranded business. Our operations in Latin America have performed
well with growth of 11% despite weakening economies.


As of the start of the year, the US, Canada and the Caribbean are being
managed as part of a single multi-country organisation for North
America and the integration of the businesses is well under way.


The operating margin before RDIs was up by 60 basis points.


Western Europe  - 2.8%: Market growth has been more affected by the
global economic downturn than the rest of the world, and slowed
further.  There has been some down-trading to private label brands.  We
are stepping up our innovation, for example with the roll-out
of new Dove products such as 'hair minimising' deodorant and damage
repair shampoo, and strengthening support levels.  We expect these
actions to result in a better volume development through the rest of
the year.


At the start of the year we completed the move to a single
IT platform for Europe and are increasingly leveraging this to drive
operational synergies across the region.


The operating margin before RDIs was 310 basis points lower than last
year in Western Europe, reflecting high commodity costs, the
depreciation of sterling, and the impact of lower volumes on fixed cost
recovery.


CATEGORIES


Growth across all categories has been driven by our strong global
brands. We have increasingly been rolling out innovations faster across
countries and regions as well as introducing new products that offer
even better value for money.  We have been placing even greater
emphasis on superior functional benefits in our products, backed up by
clinical proofs and strong communication.


Savoury, dressings and spreads - Underlying sales growth + 2.9%


There were good performances for the Knorr savoury brand in most
countries. In Germany we have lost share and are now refocusing on the
core of the brand to improve our competitive position. We have been
introducing Knorr stock-pots throughout Europe. In the US we are
capitalising on more in-home eating with Bertolli frozen meals, 'feed
your kids well' advertising for Ragu pasta sauces and encouraging the
use of Hellmann's mayonnaise in sandwich making. Strong growth for
Hellmann's globally is driven by the roll-out of the new 'light'
version with citrus fibre and by 'goodness of mayonnaise' activities
featuring natural ingredients. Volumes of margarine have been affected
by falling butter prices and competition from private label. Our'goodness
of margarine' campaign has started to deliver good
results and is being rolled out further.


Ice cream and beverages - Underlying sales growth + 4.3%


We have seen good growth in our indulgence ice cream brands -
Magnum, benefiting from the recent 'temptation' and 'minis' ranges, and
Ben & Jerry's. There was continued double-digit growth in developing
and emerging markets, including a particularly strong performance
in Brazil, while sales in Western Europe were maintained at around last
year's level. In the US, consumption of ice cream is up, but private
labels have gained some share at the expense of brands. Good growth in
tea underlines the strength of the Lipton brand, with sales over
EUR3 billion including those made by the Pepsi/Lipton joint venture. We
continue to drive the move to more added value products with the
roll-out of Lipton pyramid fruit tea and infusion ranges, and Lipton
Linea slimming teas are building well.


Personal care - Underlying sales growth + 4.0%


Our sales held up well against a background of weaker market volumes as
consumers pared back their purchases in these categories. We had an
excellent start to the year in the US, driven by new advertising for
Dove bar soap and new innovations such as Clinical Protection
deodorants, Axe hair care products and the Vaseline For Men range.  We
launched new 'hair minimising' Dove deodorant in Europe and Latin
America.  The roll-out of instant whitening toothpaste using optical
effect technology continued to drive share gains in oral care.  In
April we completed the acquisition of the TIGI professional hair care
brands which will extend our portfolio in the premium segment in
the US and Europe and provide the opportunity for geographical
expansion.


Home care and other - Underlying sales growth + 10.7

%


Home care performed very well with double-digit growth in the first
quarter. In laundry, we are building on our strong positions in D&E
markets which now represent 80% of turnover. We have been introducing
new products containing 'Oxymax' stain remover in South East Asia and
formulations specifically designed for lower income consumers in Latin
America. In Europe, we are converting consumers to concentrated liquids
with the Small & Mighty range, while accelerating restructuring to
improve our cost structure. Household care grew strongly in Asia and
Latin America, but sales were lower in Europe.  We are driving the
category with strong innovations such as Cif 'acti-fizz' and Domestos
24 hours.




ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Finance costs and tax


The cost of financing net borrowings was EUR 138m, including EUR 15m of
one-off charges in the quarter. The average interest rate was 4.8%.


The effective tax rate was 27.0%. The underlying tax rate, before RDIs,
was 27.1% compared with an unusually low rate of 23.5% last year which
reflected the favourable settlement of earlier tax audits.


Joint ventures, associates and other income from non-current
investments


Our share of net profit from joint ventures was EUR 27 million. Last
year's net profit of EUR 44 million was unusually high as it included
one-time gains on the extension of the Pepsi/Lipton joint venture for
ready-to-drink tea.


Cash Flow


Cash flow from operating activities was EUR 155 million lower than
2008, mainly due to one-off payments to pension schemes.  Cash
generation is normally low in the first quarter due to the seasonal
outflow in working capital.

Balance sheet


Working capital increased in the quarter as is usual at this time of
the year. The net pension deficit has increased from EUR 3.4 billion to
EUR 3.6 billion, reflecting lower asset values.  Currency movements are
largely responsible for the increases in values of goodwill, intangible
assets and property, plant and equipment.



OTHER INFORMATION


As previously announced, Unilever is currently engaged with both the
European Commission and other national competition authorities in
ongoing investigations in Europe. We continue to cooperate fully with
all ongoing investigations.



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT


This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including'forward-
looking statements' within the meaning of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as'expects',
'anticipates', 'intends', 'believes', or the negative of
these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or
results, including financial objectives to 2010, and their negatives
are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and
assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors
affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they
guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including,
among others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels,
costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships
and supply chain sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability
to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the
ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks,
environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal
matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates,
legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic
and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group
operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details
of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described
in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext
Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
Annual Report on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable
law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in
the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


ENQUIRIES


Media: Media Relations Team
UK +44 20 7822 6805 tim.johns@unilever.com
or +44 20 7822 6010 trevor.gorin@unilever.com

NL +31 10 217 4844 fleur-van.bruggen@unilever.com



Investors: Investor Relations Team
+44 20 7822 6830 investor.relations@unilever.com

There will be a web cast of the results presentation available at:

www.unilever.com/ourcompany/investorcentre/results/quarterlyresults/
default.asp


The Annual General Meetings of Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. will be
held on 13 May 2009 and 14 May 2009 respectively.


To view the full text of this announcement please click on the link below;

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8247R_1-2009-5-6.pdf

                    This information is provided by RNS
          The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END