Unilever releases first-quarter 2011 trading statement

Fifth Consecutive Quarter of Solid Growth

Turnover increased by 7.0% to €10.9 billion with underlying sales growth of 4.3%. All categories grew, driven by a particularly strong performance in the emerging markets. Commenting on the results, CEO Paul Polman said, “We have delivered a good performance which demonstrates that the transformation of Unilever is progressing well.”

This year, Unilever is making changes to the way it reports its results. For the first and third quarters, the company is releasing a quarterly trading statement – which gives more detail on sales across regions and categories, but does not go into the financial performance detail – and is publishing full financial results for the half-year and full-year. This change reflects the way the business is managed and the company’s commitment to long term sustainable growth.

Full details can be found in the Quarterly results and reports section of the site: http://www.unilever.com/investorrelations/results/quarterlyresults/default.aspx

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Safe Harbour

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, economic slowdown, industry consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks, commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritisation of projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2010. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.