Unilever to Lay Off 7,500 Employees Amid Spinoff of Ice Cream Unit

Unilever PLC reveals its plans to reduce its workforce across its global operations. The British fast-moving consumer goods firm will also spin off its ice cream business unit, including the famous Ben & Jerry's frozen dessert brand.

Focus on the Latest Job Terminations

According to Sky News, Unilever has about 128,000 employees worldwide, and 6,000 are stationed in the United Kingdom. Employees in this region may also be affected, and if they do, most of the cuts will be at the company's head office. Likewise, the layoffs will mainly come from office job roles in different regions.

Unilever will start the consultation process for those who will lose their jobs once the exact roles to be cut have been determined. Marc Woodward, the head of Unilever UK and Ireland, also clarified that it is too early to tell if the upcoming dismissals will impact UK jobs.

"When I do get an understanding of what that will be, I would want to discuss that first and foremost, with people in the UK and the focus will be on head office staff in the main," he said while speaking to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee this week. "It will take a little time before we understand exactly what the implications of that are going to be."

Growth Plans for Unilever's Future

Associated Press News reported that the company is launching a "productivity program" for its growth, which will unfortunately also lead to a work reduction that will result in 7,500 layoffs. Under this scheme, Unilever will save around €800 million or $867 million over the next three years. It will also invest in technology to boost its efficiency.

As relayed to its investors, Unilever also aims to improve its sales by creating a simpler and more focused organization. "Under the Growth Action Plan we have committed to do fewer things, better, and with greater impact," the firm's chief executive officer, Hein Schumacher, said in a statement. "Simplifying our portfolio and driving greater productivity will allow us to further unlock the potential of this business, supporting our ambition to position Unilever as a world-leading consumer goods company delivering strong, sustainable growth and enhanced profitability."

Photo by: Willem Nabuurs/Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)