Karachi: Unilever Pakistan Foods Ltd. announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, revealing a notable sales increase but a decrease in earnings per share (EPS). The Board of Directors, at a meeting on April 24, 2025, approved the unaudited condensed financial information for the three months ending March 31, 2025.

The company's sales amounted to 10,472.57 million, marking a 19.5% increase from the 8,760.46 million recorded in the same period last year. This growth was primarily driven by significant volumetric gains across all product segments, particularly Knorr Noodles and Unilever Food Solutions. Inflation remained in the single-digit range for the last three quarters, with March 2025 registering a 0.7% rate due to reductions in food and energy prices.

Despite the sales growth, Unilever Pakistan Foods Ltd. experienced an 8.1% decline in EPS, which fell from 285.87 to 262.60. This decrease was attributed to the maturity of tax credits, leading to a higher effective tax rate, and a decline in interest income compared to the prior period, resulting from lower interest rates and the payout of accumulated reserves.

The condensed interim financial information showed a gross profit of 3,999.19 million, up from 3,404.53 million in the previous year. Distribution, administrative, and other costs amounted to 1,549.65 million, compared to 1,479.65 million last year. The company reported other income of 320.59 million, a decrease from 656.09 million in the same period of the prior year, leading to a profit before operations of 2,770.13 million, compared to 2,580.97 million last year.

According to information available from the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the finance cost during this period was 32.41 million, compared to a gain of 4.53 million in the previous year. The final taxation cost was 2.47 million, down from 28.60 million the year before. Profit before income tax stood at 2,735.26 million, up from 2,556.90 million, while profit after income tax decreased to 1,672.78 million from 1,820.98 million in the prior year.

Unilever Pakistan Foods Ltd. operates in the consumer goods sector, focusing on food products, and continues to navigate the financial landscape amid fluctuating economic conditions.