Unilever to cut fewer jobs as it boosts ice cream business

Unilever is reportedly cutting about 1,500 fewer jobs in Europe than initially anticipated. It will also be hiring about 1,000 people, primarily those affected by its cost-cutting drive, for its soon-to-be spun off ice cream business.

The company has been attempting to streamline its business over the past year and said in March this year that it would cut 7,500 jobs worldwide as part of a three-year cost-saving plan. It also said that it would split off its ice cream business in tandem.

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Unilever's European Works Council (UEWC) has reportedly come out against these decisions, saying a realignment of the ice cream business could have been successfully managed within Unilever, according to Reuters. 

However, UEWC chairman, Hermann Soggeberg, told Reuters that the company reached a deal with Unilever that will see a reduction of about 1,700 job losses in Europe. The initial number was 3,200 in Europe. 

Soggeberg reportedly said that Unilever is planning for growth in its ice cream business. 

The ice cream business' spinoff is reportedly expected to complete by the end of 2025.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out for more information. 

This comes just days after ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's reportedly filed a lawsuit stating that its parent company, Unilever, silenced its attempts to express support for Palestine and its refugees amidst the ongoing war.

It reportedly said that Unilever threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue, according to Reuters. 

In the lawsuit, Ben & Jerry's reportedly claims that it has tried on four occasions to publicly speak out in support of peace and human rights, but that Unilever has silenced each of these efforts. 

Unilever reportedly told Reuters that it rejects these claims and that it will defend its case strongly. Ben & Jerry's added that it is confident that these issues will ultimately be resolved. 

In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Ben & Jerry's said “Our heart goes out to all victims of the tragic events in the Middle East. We reject the claims made by B&J’s social mission board, and we will defend our case very strongly. We would not comment further on this legal matter.”

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