Shoppers are hit as Dove owner Unilever hikes prices by 2.3% to offset energy costs soaring amid the Iran war

Unilever, the FTSE 100 giant behind Dove, Lynx, Marmite and Pot Noodle, raised prices by 2.3% in the three months to September 30 as oil-driven commodity and shipping costs have surged since the Iran war began. Chief executive Fernando Fernandez said the firm had delivered "a step-up in price to offset the impact of higher commodity costs."
Rival household goods firm Reckitt Benckiser also raised European prices by 4% in the third quarter, driven by the same Iran-war inflation pressures.
Unilever's food arm was its weakest performer, with sales up just 0.1% in the quarter — dragged down by fierce US condiments competition.
Unilever is offloading its food business to US firm McCormick in a £33.8bn deal, combining Marmite with French's mustard, expected to close by mid-2027.
