Unilever has revised its European workforce reduction plan, cutting around 1,500 fewer jobs as part of an $850 million cost-saving initiative. The company will relocate about 1,000 positions to its new global ice cream division, which includes major brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, and Walls. This restructuring will help minimize job cuts while aligning with Unilever’s focus on high-growth areas.
Unilever, a global leader in consumer goods, has revised its European workforce reduction plan, cutting the number of job cuts by approximately 1,500. The company is pursuing an €800 million (around $850 million USD) cost-saving initiative, which includes restructuring its operations. The changes coincide with the creation of a separate global ice cream unit, which will house major brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Walls, and Magnum.
Initially, Unilever’s restructuring plan, announced in March 2024, targeted 7,500 job cuts worldwide over three years. The revised plan will now reduce the number of European job losses from 3,200 to 1,700, as confirmed by Hermann Soggeberg, chairman of the European Works Council (UEWC).
In a statement, Unilever emphasized its efforts to meet the €800 million (approximately $850 million USD) savings goal while minimizing the impact on its employees. “We are fully on track to deliver the €800 million in savings while minimizing the impact on our people,” said a company spokesperson. The plan involves a mix of role transfers to the ice cream division, a hiring freeze, and natural attrition.
As part of this restructuring, Unilever will relocate around 1,000 positions to its standalone ice cream division. This move will help mitigate the effect of the job cuts by offering new roles to employees impacted by the broader cost-saving measures.
Unilever’s restructuring efforts aim to streamline operations and focus on high-growth segments such as its ice cream business, while balancing cost savings with employee welfare.
