Unilever 2000 Annual Report Download - page 13

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11
Unilever Annual Report & Accounts and Form 20-F 2000 Report of the Directors
Operating review by region
category leadership. In home care, laundry experienced
4% underlying volume grow th, with liquid all making a
particular contribution.
The merger of the three mass market Home & Personal Care
businesses w as completed successfully, although there w ere
short-term customer service difficulties. The size and scope
of the new organisation have strengthened our position in
the marketplace.
Our Prestige fragrance brands returned to modest grow th
in North America on the strength of the Elizabeth Arden
launches of Green Tea and Cerruti Image. However, Elizabeth
Arden cosmetics sales were less robust. We announced the
launch of a new Calvin Klein cosmetics range.
In DiverseyLever, our professional cleaning business, profits
were adversely impacted by a sales reorganisation and some
account losses.
We marked the first full year since the new Lipton was formed
from the merger of Thomas J. Lipton and Van den Bergh
Foods. After achieving strong grow th in 1998, Foods volumes
were 3% down with profits and margins also falling.
In tea, we successfully trialled Lipton Cold Brew,
cold infusion tea bags aimed at the huge iced tea market.
Investment in innovation also helped maintain our market
share in yellow fats. By the end of the year our new blood
cholesterol-level lowering spread Take Control had taken
leadership in this new sector.
In culinary, Wishbone dressings and Ragú pasta sauce made
excellent progress. However, our withdrawal from the
industrial tomato business and supply chain difficulties
contributed to a drop in overall culinary volumes.
We invested strongly in ice cream cabinets and sold more
impulse products. However, competitive pressure saw us
lose some ground in packaged ice cream.
Exceptional charges in 1999 related to the restructuring
of our Foods and Home & Personal Care businesses.
North America continued