Consumer Goods 17 February 2026 - 2 May 2026

Reckitt Benckiser’s China Speed Bet Puts Durex, Lysol Maker Back in Market Focus
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Reckitt Benckiser’s China Speed Bet Puts Durex, Lysol Maker Back in Market Focus

Kris Licht, CEO of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, is framing China’s rapid shift to video-driven ecommerce as a key trial for the company’s broader strategy overhaul. Calling it “the most profound channel shift” he’s witnessed, Licht said Reckitt “pivoted hard” as shoppers left physical stores for their phones. The numbers are stark: ecommerce and social commerce — mostly through video and social apps — now account for roughly 80% of Reckitt’s sales in China, a steep climb from 30% six years back. China revenue is approaching £1 billion, with 11 consecutive quarters of double-digit gains, Licht told Semafor in an interview. Timing’s key here. Reckitt is out to convince investors that digital sales, quicker product cycles, and artificial intelligence aren’t
May 9, 2026
Unilever PLC Price Hikes Are Back: Dove Maker Beats Forecasts, Then Flags Cost Squeeze
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Unilever PLC Price Hikes Are Back: Dove Maker Beats Forecasts, Then Flags Cost Squeeze

Unilever PLC plans to roll out targeted price hikes later this year, finance chief Srinivas Phatak said, describing the adjustments as “small doses.” The move comes as increased costs linked to the Iran war took the shine off a quarterly sales beat for the group behind Dove soap and Axe deodorant. Timing is key here. Unilever’s been working to win back volume—actual units sold—since a series of steep price hikes nudged customers over to cheaper private labels. More hikes now could jeopardize that progress, particularly in the home care segment, where oil-based chemical costs filter directly into detergents and cleaners.
May 2, 2026
Coca-Cola stock price: KO closes near highs after CAGNY remarks, as investors weigh consumer demand
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Coca-Cola stock price: KO closes near highs after CAGNY remarks, as investors weigh consumer demand

NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2026, 17:52 — After-hours Coca-Cola climbed 1.12% to finish Tuesday at $79.56, sitting just shy of its 52-week peak, even as the broader indexes barely budged—S&P 500 up 0.1%, the Dow tacking on 0.07%. PepsiCo dropped 2.42%. Mondelez shed 4.36%. Roughly 16.1 million KO shares changed hands, lighter than the stock’s 50-day average.
February 18, 2026