Unilever-McCormick Food Business Talks Could Split Off Hellmann’s, Knorr and Marmite
Unilever on Friday confirmed it's fielding an inbound offer for its Foods division and is now in talks with McCormick & Co., possibly paving the way for brands like Hellmann’s, Knorr and Marmite to change hands. McCormick has also acknowledged ongoing discussions about a potential strategic transaction involving the business unit. The timing here is clear enough. These negotiations would fast-track CEO Fernando Fernandez’s campaign to slim Unilever down, sharpening its angle on beauty, wellbeing, and personal care—a strategy set in motion after last year’s ice cream spin-off. Looking at the 2025 numbers: Foods delivered 2.5% growth, while Beauty & Wellbeing jumped 4.3%, and Personal Care posted 4.7%. Foods still accounted for 26% of overall turnover.