The big question of which country Unilever will list its ice cream business remains unanswered
Unilever is seeking a new home to list its €15bn ice-cream business after failed attempts to sell, and three big governments want in on the action.
Unilever is currently listed in London, but the once underperforming ice cream business could be housed elsewhere.
Who wants a lick of Unilever’s ice cream?
With recent global stock market ups and downs – caused by Trump’s tariff threats – countries are scrabble for a lick of Unilever’s soon-to-be spun-off ice cream unit.
According to reports, Amsterdam, London or New York are on the business’s real estate list.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves first stepped into the discussion to keep Unilever’s ice cream in the UK in September. This came after a major drugs company pulled investment there.
Ahead of the spin-off this year, Unilever announced the closure of an ice cream factory in Bulgaria. Though the production would be switched to Romania and Unilever did not specify whether it was linked to any consolidation plans.
Unilever’s business strategy
CEO Hein Schumacher’s strategy to split ice cream from the main business came as the boss decided it was distinctly different to the blue chip’s leading operations.
Schumacher would instead focus on a series of hero brands, with ambitions to produce millions of euros of new NPD in the coming years. However, Unilever’s latest accounts showed ice cream was performing well.
Schumacher, along with other global FMCG businesses, will also strengthen Unilever’s focus on India, which businesses worldwide view as the next major growth market.
Nicholas Robinson
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