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.

C&C Group reports solid HY2026 results with earnings and dividend growth

C&C Group plc, owner of Tennent’s and Bulmers, has announced results for the six months ended 31 August 2025, delivering performance in line with expectations...

October 28, 2025

Greencore–Bakkavor merger clears CMA Phase 1

Greencore and Bakkavor announced that the UK Competition and Markets Authority has completed its Phase 1 review of their proposed merger, raising no competition issues across about 99% of the combined group’s activities...

October 27, 2025

Palm oil prices start to shift under a different kind of pressure

Palm oil prices are beginning to reflect more than food demand, energy markets are rewriting the script...

October 24, 2025

Unilever Plc Q3 2025, 3.9% USG, Dividend Up, Outlook Reaffirmed

Unilever reported underlying sales growth of 3.9% in Q3 2025, with 1.5% from volume and 2.4% from price. Turnover was €14.7bn, down 3.5% mainly from currency and disposals...

October 23, 2025

Reckitt Benckiser posts 7% Q3 revenue growth

Reckitt Benckiser delivered a 7% rise in like-for-like group revenue for Q3 2025, supported by 6.7% growth in Core Reckitt and strong momentum in Emerging Markets...

October 22, 2025

Unilever revises Magnum demerger timetable Amid US government shutdown

Unilever has announced a revision to the timetable for the planned demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V. due to the ongoing US federal government shutdown...

October 21, 2025

Bunzl Plc reports steady Q3 trading, reaffirms 2025 outlook

Bunzl plc has reported a 0.6% increase in Q3 revenue at constant exchange rates, with underlying revenue up 0.4% despite challenging market conditions...

October 21, 2025

B&M lowers FY26 outlook following £7m freight cost adjustment and CFO resignation

B&M European Value Retail has revised its FY26 outlook after identifying around £7 million of overseas freight costs that were not correctly recorded due to a system update earlier in the year...

October 20, 2025

Palm oil futures edge up as crude and rival oils firm

Palm oil futures are finding support from stronger crude and rival oils as investors watch supply and demand tighten...

October 16, 2025

Palm oil futures edge higher as energy markets realign

Palm oil futures are rising again as firmer crude oil prices and stronger Asian demand revive investor interest in one of the world’s most traded commodities...

October 14, 2025

Dekel Agri-Vision Q3 2025: Strong cashew growth supports operations

Dekel Agri-Vision reported a strong Q3 2025 performance at its cashew operation in Tiebissou, with processing up 354% and sales almost sixfold year-on-year, supported by new equipment and improved efficiency...

October 10, 2025

Bunzl Plc expands with acquisitions in Ireland and Spain

Bunzl =has completed the acquisitions of Caterline Catering Equipment Ltd in Ireland and Anta y Jesús, S.L.U in Spain, each generating revenue of €6 million (£5 million) in 2024...

October 8, 2025

Warpaint London appoints Berenberg as joint Corporate Broker

Warpaint London, the colour cosmetics supplier and brand owner, has appointed Berenberg as joint corporate broker, working alongside Shore Capital with immediate effect...

October 8, 2025

Palm oil finds new momentum as supply tightens

Palm oil edges higher as Malaysia’s production slows and supply dynamics begin to tighten...

October 7, 2025

B&M launches ‘Back to B&M Basics’ plan after weaker H1 trading

B&M European Value Retail reported group revenue growth of 4% to £2.75bn in H1 FY26, but UK like-for-like sales were down 1.1% in Q2. CEO Tjeerd Jegen has launched a turnaround plan focused on pricing, range simplification and on-shelf availability to restore sustainable growth...

October 7, 2025

Imperial Brands Plc confirms FY25 guidance, £1.45bn FY26 share buyback

Imperial Brands expects FY25 results in line with guidance, supported by growth in tobacco and NGP. The group has announced a £1.45 billion share buyback for FY26, alongside continued dividend growth and progress on its 2030 strategy...

October 7, 2025

Palm oil futures find fresh momentum as exports and energy align

Palm oil futures climbed this week as currency, exports and energy markets combined to create a stronger backdrop..

October 3, 2025

Tesco Plc posts strong H1 2025/26 sales growth and raises interim dividend

Tesco reported group sales of £33.1bn for H1 2025/26, up 5.1% year-on-year, with adjusted operating profit rising 1.6% to £1.67bn. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 6.8% to 15.43p, and the interim dividend was lifted 12.9% to 4.80p...

October 2, 2025

Tate & Lyle pre-close update: CP Kelco integration progress, softer market demand

Tate & Lyle reported strong customer engagement and early cross-selling success following its CP Kelco combination, with planned synergies on track. However, softer consumer demand has slowed near-term performance, with first-half revenue expected to be 3–4% lower and EBITDA down high-single digits...

October 1, 2025

Diageo prices €1 billion euro-denominated bond issuance

Diageo has priced €1 billion of fixed rate bonds under its European Debt Issuance Programme, split between €500 million due in 2032 with a 3.250% coupon and €500 million due in 2037 with a 3.750% coupon...

October 1, 2025

News and Interview Alerts

Company Presentations

Q&As

Diverse Income Trust beats key benchmarks, Gervais shares portfolio insights (LON:DIVI)

14 October 2025

Thor Explorations strong cash flow, profits and management execution impresses Gervais Williams (LON:THX)

13 October 2025

Hardman & Co

Volta Finance: Liquid access to outperforming private credit

6 October 2025

Real Estate Credit Investments: What RECI brings to investors

15 September 2025

Chesnara Plc: Showing good operational progress

8 September 2025

Arbuthnot Banking Group 1H’25 results: Growing where it wants to

30 July 2025

Green News

Drax to acquire three battery storage projects totalling 260MW from Apatura

30 October 2025

View all Sustainable sectors, Plcs and news >>

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Latest Interviews

Volta Finance: How Retail Investors Can Tap Into Private Credit’s Hottest Corner (Video)

BrokerTalk

Hunting Plc is “Materially Undervalued” and a Buy says Broker on Q3 growth

24 October 2025

Arbuthnot Banking – 6 Percent Dividend and Robust Credit Quality Highlights Shore Capital

24 October 2025

CyanConnode Strong First Half Sets Up Promising Outlook – Zeus Capital

23 October 2025

Diverse Income Trust Managers predict UK small-cap super cycle

22 October 2025

Ferro-Alloy Resources Unveils Compelling Potential Following Robust Feasibility Study (LON:FAR) – Panmure Liberum

17 October 2025

Funds

Fidelity’s China investment trust reports continued strong gains on macro tailwinds (LON:FCSS)

28 October 2025

Fidelity Emerging Markets Investment Trust reports over 34% 12-month NAV rise

28 October 2025

Fidelity Asian Values rises further with Hong Kong portfolio enhancing returns

28 October 2025

Fidelity European Trust continued rise as shares advanced in ASML and AIB

28 October 2025

Fidelity Special Values reports 29% share price return over one year beating index (LON:FSV)

28 October 2025

View all Funds, Market Insights and news >>

FTSE 100 News

UK Broker Ratings

Syncona Limited (SYNC.L) Stock Analysis: Navigating a Market Cap of $623 Million and Technical Indicators

30 October 2025

Supermarket Income REIT plc (SUPR.L) Stock Analysis: Navigating a Unique Real Estate Opportunity

30 October 2025

Spectris PLC (SXS.L) Stock Analysis: Exploring the Market Dynamics and Valuation Insights

30 October 2025

Spire Healthcare Group PLC (SPI.L) Stock Analysis: A Promising 22.84% Potential Upside for Patient Investors

30 October 2025

SSP GROUP PLC (SSPG.L) Stock Analysis: A Mixed Bag with a 42% Potential Upside

30 October 2025

Consumer Defensive

C&C Group reports solid HY2026 results with earnings and dividend growth

C&C Group plc, owner of Tennent’s and Bulmers, has announced results for the six months ended 31 August 2025, delivering performance in line with expectations...

October 28, 2025

Greencore–Bakkavor merger clears CMA Phase 1

October 27, 2025

Palm oil prices start to shift under a different kind of pressure

Palm oil prices are beginning to reflect more than food demand, energy markets are rewriting the script...

October 24, 2025

Unilever Plc Q3 2025, 3.9% USG, Dividend Up, Outlook Reaffirmed

Unilever reported underlying sales growth of 3.9% in Q3 2025, with 1.5% from volume and 2.4% from price. Turnover was €14.7bn, down 3.5% mainly from currency and disposals...

October 23, 2025

Reckitt Benckiser posts 7% Q3 revenue growth

Reckitt Benckiser delivered a 7% rise in like-for-like group revenue for Q3 2025, supported by 6.7% growth in Core Reckitt and strong momentum in Emerging Markets...

October 22, 2025

Unilever revises Magnum demerger timetable Amid US government shutdown

Unilever has announced a revision to the timetable for the planned demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V. due to the ongoing US federal government shutdown...

October 21, 2025

Bunzl Plc reports steady Q3 trading, reaffirms 2025 outlook

Bunzl plc has reported a 0.6% increase in Q3 revenue at constant exchange rates, with underlying revenue up 0.4% despite challenging market conditions...

October 21, 2025

B&M lowers FY26 outlook following £7m freight cost adjustment and CFO resignation

B&M European Value Retail has revised its FY26 outlook after identifying around £7 million of overseas freight costs that were not correctly recorded due to a system update earlier in the year...

October 20, 2025

Palm oil futures edge up as crude and rival oils firm

Palm oil futures are finding support from stronger crude and rival oils as investors watch supply and demand tighten...

October 16, 2025

Palm oil futures edge higher as energy markets realign

Palm oil futures are rising again as firmer crude oil prices and stronger Asian demand revive investor interest in one of the world’s most traded commodities...

October 14, 2025

Dekel Agri-Vision Q3 2025: Strong cashew growth supports operations

October 10, 2025

Bunzl Plc expands with acquisitions in Ireland and Spain

Bunzl =has completed the acquisitions of Caterline Catering Equipment Ltd in Ireland and Anta y Jesús, S.L.U in Spain, each generating revenue of €6 million (£5 million) in 2024...

October 8, 2025

Warpaint London appoints Berenberg as joint Corporate Broker

Warpaint London, the colour cosmetics supplier and brand owner, has appointed Berenberg as joint corporate broker, working alongside Shore Capital with immediate effect...