Consumer Defensive

Companies involved in the manufacture of food and beverages, household and personal care products, packaging and tobacco. The sector also includes firms providing education and training services. UK‑listed companies in this sector include Unilever plc, Diageo plc, Associated British Foods plc, Imperial Brands plc, Smurfit Kappa plc and Pearson plc.

Palm oil futures stir interest amid shifting rival oil dynamics

Palm oil futures are gaining support from shifting trade dynamics, currency trends and rival oil strength, pointing to a more favourable structural setup...

Reckitt Benckiser reports 4.2% core revenue growth and upgraded 2025 outlook

Reckitt Benckiser delivered a strong H1 2025, with Core Reckitt like‑for‑like net revenues up 4.2% and Emerging Markets growth of 12.8%. Adjusted operating profit margin improved by 110 bps to 24.6%, supporting a 5% rise in the interim dividend and an upgrade to full‑year LFL net revenue guidance above 4% for Core Reckitt...

Palm oil trade turning tide

A convergence of favourable weather, measured export policies and strengthening demand is shaping a brighter outlook for palm oil traders and investors...

Dekel Agri-Vision appoints Jonathan Johnson-Watts as Non-Executive Chairman

Jonathan Johnson-Watts becomes Non-Executive Chairman with a 7.6% stake, replacing Andrew Tillery...

Greencore Group Q3 revenue up 9.9% to £511m, profit guidance lifted

Greencore grew Q3 FY25 revenue 9.9% to £511.1m, with volumes and mix up 6.8% and inflation recovery of 3.1%. Service levels remained high at 99.3%. The Group now expects FY25 Adjusted Operating Profit of £118–121m, above earlier guidance...

A rare alignment in the edible oil landscape

A subtle fusion of currency shifts, policy tweaks and cross‐commodity trends is transforming the palm oil landscape into a compelling arena for discerning investors...

Reckitt Benckiser to divest Essential Home business to Advent

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc has entered into an agreement to sell its Essential Home business to Advent International for an enterprise value of up to US$4.8 billion, while retaining a 30 percent equity stake...

James Cropper plc Strategy Reset Targets Growth (Video)

CEO David Stirling outlines a three-pillar strategy focused on reigniting growth in advanced materials..

Premier Foods Q1 update, Sweet Treats growth, FY25/26 profit held

For the 13 weeks to 28 June 2025, Group branded sales rose 1.2% and total sales 0.3%. Sweet Treats branded grew 11.4% on innovation, Grocery branded fell 2.0% on warmer weather. New categories up 38%, International up 5%...

B&M reports 4.4% Q1 revenue growth

Group revenues rose 4.4% to £1.405 bn in Q1 FY26, led by B&M UK’s 4.7% increase and B&M France’s 7.6% growth, with Heron Foods stable...

Palm oil prices uncover ties between fuels and currencies

Global energy trends and policy shifts are converging to drive palm oil into a new era of investor interest, blending culinary demand with biofuel potential...

British American Tobacco Plc APMEA leadership change

Michael Dijanosic will step down on 31 December 2025 and Pascale Meulemeester will succeed him as APMEA Regional Director and Management Board member from 1 January 2026...

Dekel Agri-Vision delivers 20% palm oil growth, 353% cashew surge

Dekel Agri-Vision reports that Palm Oil Operation revenue for H1 2025 rose by approximately 20 % year-on-year, driven by stronger CPO and PKO prices...

Fuel markets chart unseen course for palm oil

A subtle shift as palm oil’s ties to crude markets deepen suggests a fresh intersection of agriculture and energy that investors cannot ignore...

Undercurrents reshape palm oil’s positioning

Recalibration is underway in palm oil markets, as bullish support from Asia’s rival oils and demand shifts reinforce prices, while crude softness and cautious refiners introduce restraint...

Dekel Agri-Vision raises £115.6k in Retail Offer

The Retail Offer launched on 27 June 2025 raised £115,601 via 21,018,429 shares at 0.55p each, bringing total gross proceeds to approximately £2.5m. Admission to AIM is expected to begin 23 July 2025, subject to shareholder approval...

Likewise Group’s Nationwide Distribution Overhaul Powers 2025 Profit Surge (Video)

Tony Brewer explains how Likewise Group’s people-first approach and targeted infrastructure investments are unlocking new growth horizons. Discover why 2025’s £4 million profit goal is well within reach...

Tate & Lyle showcases innovation and growth at investor event

Tate & Lyle’s Capital Markets Day showcases its growth strategy, innovation-led portfolio, and the strategic value of CP Kelco, positioning the group at the forefront of food reformulation and nutrition...

J Sainsbury Plc secures decade-high market share with value and loyalty strategy

Sainsbury’s delivered 4.9% Q1 retail sales growth and its highest market share since 2016, driven by deep value pricing, strong online performance, and expanding loyalty engagement...

Dekel Agri-Vision maintains EBITDA and strengthens cashew turnaround

Dekel Agri-Vision reported stable Group EBITDA of €2.6 million for FY2024. A 41% improvement in the Cashew Operation offset a softer year in palm oil due to lower CPO prices. Post year-end, the company raised £2.33m, restructured debt, and expects further gains in 2025 with rising CPO prices and continued cashew progress...
Search

Funds

Consumer Defensive

Palm oil futures stir interest amid shifting rival oil dynamics

Palm oil futures are gaining support from shifting trade dynamics, currency trends and rival oil strength, pointing to a more favourable structural setup...

Reckitt Benckiser reports 4.2% core revenue growth and upgraded 2025 outlook

Reckitt Benckiser delivered a strong H1 2025, with Core Reckitt like‑for‑like net revenues up 4.2% and Emerging Markets growth of 12.8%. Adjusted operating profit margin improved by 110 bps to 24.6%, supporting a 5% rise in the interim dividend and an upgrade to full‑year LFL net revenue guidance above 4% for Core Reckitt...

Palm oil trade turning tide

A convergence of favourable weather, measured export policies and strengthening demand is shaping a brighter outlook for palm oil traders and investors...

Dekel Agri-Vision appoints Jonathan Johnson-Watts as Non-Executive Chairman

Jonathan Johnson-Watts becomes Non-Executive Chairman with a 7.6% stake, replacing Andrew Tillery...

Greencore Group Q3 revenue up 9.9% to £511m, profit guidance lifted

Greencore grew Q3 FY25 revenue 9.9% to £511.1m, with volumes and mix up 6.8% and inflation recovery of 3.1%. Service levels remained high at 99.3%. The Group now expects FY25 Adjusted Operating Profit of £118–121m, above earlier guidance...

A rare alignment in the edible oil landscape

A subtle fusion of currency shifts, policy tweaks and cross‐commodity trends is transforming the palm oil landscape into a compelling arena for discerning investors...

Reckitt Benckiser to divest Essential Home business to Advent

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc has entered into an agreement to sell its Essential Home business to Advent International for an enterprise value of up to US$4.8 billion, while retaining a 30 percent equity stake...

James Cropper plc Strategy Reset Targets Growth (Video)

CEO David Stirling outlines a three-pillar strategy focused on reigniting growth in advanced materials..

Premier Foods Q1 update, Sweet Treats growth, FY25/26 profit held

For the 13 weeks to 28 June 2025, Group branded sales rose 1.2% and total sales 0.3%. Sweet Treats branded grew 11.4% on innovation, Grocery branded fell 2.0% on warmer weather. New categories up 38%, International up 5%...

B&M reports 4.4% Q1 revenue growth

Group revenues rose 4.4% to £1.405 bn in Q1 FY26, led by B&M UK’s 4.7% increase and B&M France’s 7.6% growth, with Heron Foods stable...

Palm oil prices uncover ties between fuels and currencies

Global energy trends and policy shifts are converging to drive palm oil into a new era of investor interest, blending culinary demand with biofuel potential...

British American Tobacco Plc APMEA leadership change

Michael Dijanosic will step down on 31 December 2025 and Pascale Meulemeester will succeed him as APMEA Regional Director and Management Board member from 1 January 2026...

Dekel Agri-Vision delivers 20% palm oil growth, 353% cashew surge

Dekel Agri-Vision reports that Palm Oil Operation revenue for H1 2025 rose by approximately 20 % year-on-year, driven by stronger CPO and PKO prices...

Fuel markets chart unseen course for palm oil

A subtle shift as palm oil’s ties to crude markets deepen suggests a fresh intersection of agriculture and energy that investors cannot ignore...

Undercurrents reshape palm oil’s positioning

Recalibration is underway in palm oil markets, as bullish support from Asia’s rival oils and demand shifts reinforce prices, while crude softness and cautious refiners introduce restraint...

Dekel Agri-Vision raises £115.6k in Retail Offer

The Retail Offer launched on 27 June 2025 raised £115,601 via 21,018,429 shares at 0.55p each, bringing total gross proceeds to approximately £2.5m. Admission to AIM is expected to begin 23 July 2025, subject to shareholder approval...

Likewise Group’s Nationwide Distribution Overhaul Powers 2025 Profit Surge (Video)

Tony Brewer explains how Likewise Group’s people-first approach and targeted infrastructure investments are unlocking new growth horizons. Discover why 2025’s £4 million profit goal is well within reach...

Tate & Lyle showcases innovation and growth at investor event

Tate & Lyle’s Capital Markets Day showcases its growth strategy, innovation-led portfolio, and the strategic value of CP Kelco, positioning the group at the forefront of food reformulation and nutrition...

J Sainsbury Plc secures decade-high market share with value and loyalty strategy

Sainsbury’s delivered 4.9% Q1 retail sales growth and its highest market share since 2016, driven by deep value pricing, strong online performance, and expanding loyalty engagement...

Dekel Agri-Vision maintains EBITDA and strengthens cashew turnaround

Dekel Agri-Vision reported stable Group EBITDA of €2.6 million for FY2024. A 41% improvement in the Cashew Operation offset a softer year in palm oil due to lower CPO prices. Post year-end, the company raised £2.33m, restructured debt, and expects further gains in 2025 with rising CPO prices and continued cashew progress...
Search

Funds

Consumer Defensive

FTSE 100

Funds