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.

Hilton Food Group issues Q3 update with resilient trading and cautious 2026 outlook

Hilton Food Group reported steady third quarter trading despite inflationary pressures. Volumes in red meat and convenience remained firm, while challenges persisted in seafood due to softer white-fish demand and ongoing disruption at Foppen...

November 11, 2025

Dekel Agri-Vision reports higher pricing and cashew capacity gains

Dekel Agri-Vision delivered a constructive October update, with stronger local palm oil and kernel oil pricing helping offset the seasonal dip in production...

November 10, 2025

Palm oil prices recover as global edible oil signals realign

Palm oil prices are climbing off multi‑week lows, driven by regional oilseed shifts, currency moves and tighter links across the global edible oil chain...

November 7, 2025

Diageo Plc Q1 FY26 net sales flat as Chinese and US markets weaken

Diageo reported flat organic net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with 2.9% volume growth offset by negative price mix. Strong performances in Europe, Latin America, and Africa were balanced by weaker demand for Chinese white spirits and a soft US consumer environment...

November 6, 2025

Palm oil edges into focus as shifting dynamics create room for selective positioning

Palm oil is beginning to show signs of stabilisation as shifting demand dynamics and disciplined price action create room for selective opportunity...

November 4, 2025

Associated British Foods reports FY2025 results with earnings decline

Associated British Foods plc reported a 1% decline in group revenue to £19.5 billion for the year ended 13 September 2025, with adjusted operating profit down 12% to £1.73 billion...

November 4, 2025

Palm oil prices react to signals beyond supply

Palm oil prices edge higher as cross-commodity signals and a weaker ringgit reshape margin dynamics for producers...

October 30, 2025

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

News and Interview Alerts

Company Presentations

Q&As

Verge Technologies CEO highlights advances in AI-driven cloud resilience

31 October 2025

Gattaca FY25: Profit up, Tech focus, and Sector growth (LON:GATC)

27 October 2025

Thor Energy CEO on strategic pivot to Hydrogen & Helium (LON:THR)

24 October 2025

Ilika CEO on achieving full operational status of its Goliath pilot line (LON:IKA)

24 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 secures low-carbon CfD for biomass units at Drax Power Station

5 November 2025

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Drax Group Expands Energy Flexibility with Strategic Battery Acquisition, says Longspur Research

4 November 2025

One Health Group Delivers Strong Interim Growth, Says Panmure Liberum

3 November 2025

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

Funds

Top China Investment Trust 2025 – Latest Research & Analysis

6 November 2025

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FTSE 100 News

UK Broker Ratings

Goodwin PLC (GDWN.L) Stock Analysis: Exploring Growth Potential in the Specialty Industrial Machinery Sector

11 November 2025

Hilton Food Group PLC (HFG.L) Investor Outlook: Navigating a 55.88% Potential Upside

11 November 2025

FIRSTGROUP PLC (FGP.L) Investor Outlook: Exploring a 16.7% Potential Upside in the Railroads Sector

11 November 2025

Alpha Group International PLC (ALPH.L): Strong Revenue Growth and High ROE Capture Investor Attention

11 November 2025

Chemring Group PLC (CHG.L) Stock Analysis: Evaluating a 15% Potential Upside in Aerospace & Defense

11 November 2025

Consumer Defensive

Hilton Food Group issues Q3 update with resilient trading and cautious 2026 outlook

November 11, 2025

Dekel Agri-Vision reports higher pricing and cashew capacity gains

Dekel Agri-Vision delivered a constructive October update, with stronger local palm oil and kernel oil pricing helping offset the seasonal dip in production...

November 10, 2025

Palm oil prices recover as global edible oil signals realign

Palm oil prices are climbing off multi‑week lows, driven by regional oilseed shifts, currency moves and tighter links across the global edible oil chain...

November 7, 2025

Diageo Plc Q1 FY26 net sales flat as Chinese and US markets weaken

November 6, 2025

Palm oil edges into focus as shifting dynamics create room for selective positioning

Palm oil is beginning to show signs of stabilisation as shifting demand dynamics and disciplined price action create room for selective opportunity...

November 4, 2025

Associated British Foods reports FY2025 results with earnings decline

Associated British Foods plc reported a 1% decline in group revenue to £19.5 billion for the year ended 13 September 2025, with adjusted operating profit down 12% to £1.73 billion...

November 4, 2025

Palm oil prices react to signals beyond supply

Palm oil prices edge higher as cross-commodity signals and a weaker ringgit reshape margin dynamics for producers...

October 30, 2025

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...

October 8, 2025