Unilever Raises Outlook, Volumes Soar

Unilever just notched its strongest quarterly volume growth in more than a decade, sending shares to their best day in two years and lifting annual forecasts. The company’s double-down on brand investment—pumping 16% of revenue into marketing, especially its 30 so-called Power Brands—appears to be paying off, driving nearly 7% volume growth in Q2 and double-digit gains for half those flagship lines. That’s a big bet: when you spend this much on brands, you need volumes, not just price hikes, to justify the outlay and avoid squeezing margins.

But here’s the catch: focusing so heavily on these Power Brands concentrates risk, making any stumble more costly. And even as Unilever expands its manufacturing footprint in Egypt—boosting output by 20% and dedicating it to exports—it faces potential pitfalls, from unproven demand to currency swings and policy uncertainty. Meanwhile, the men’s grooming battle heats up after Unilever’s €1.24 billion Dr. Squatch buy. But with key Squatch talent already departing, the real question is whether Unilever can scale the brand’s cult appeal or risks losing what made it special—especially as bigger rivals sharpen their game and price pressure mounts.

Featuring insights from Marketing Dive and reporting on the ground in Cairo, this episode unpacks the numbers, the strategy, and the real stakes behind Unilever’s resurgence.

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