Unilever, a consumer goods company, said they are facing for tougher market conditions as it faced another volatile year.
Chief Executive Paul Polman said, "We are preparing ourselves for tougher market conditions and high volatility in 2016, as world events in recent weeks have highlighted."
Chief Financial Officer Graeme Pitkethly said Unilever had performed better in emerging markets in 2015, growing by 7.1 percent, with volume coming back quite strongly. Underlying sales growth in developed markets was flat.
"Our job is to deliver a consistent performance despite the bumps in the road. "Our best estimate is we will deliver (sales) growth between three to five percent (this year), and our current momentum rate would put us squarely in the middle of that range," he said.
It is said that improvements to products such as Magnum ice cream and Omo detergent helped its sales in 2015 to beat forecasts.
With these, it can be said that the past year has been a positive year for Unilever. In 2014, the market was slow due to new emerging markets, including China, that contributed to the change of purchase preferences by both retailers and wholesalers.
Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said that with the results of their performance last year, it can be said that Unilever appeared to be back on track.
"Fourth quarter underlying sales have exceeded forecasts, underpinned by ongoing product innovation and brand investments," he said.
However, even with its positive outcome, the company has warned the investors not to expect too much since global uncertainty become higher. This can be seen by the shaky and unstable stock markets, low commodity prices, currency volatility and slower economic growth in China.
Shares in Unilever, which have risen 6 percent in the last 12 months, were trading up 1.7 percent at 2,893 pence at 1045 GMT in London, in line with the broader market.
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