Unilever Sales Rise 4.5%, Narrowly Beating Expectations

Unilever achieved slightly better than expected underlying quarterly sales after winning back more shoppers with product innovations and slower price increases, posting its biggest gain in sales volumes in three-and a-half-years.

The consumer goods giant said on Thursday it was keeping its full-year outlook for 3-5 percent underlying sales growth and an underlying operating margin of at least 18 percent.

The maker of Dove soap and Hellmann’s condiments reported a 4.5 percent rise in…