Unilever will close up to 100 plants and save euro 395 million this year from the integration of Bestfoods, which was acquired last year, shareholders were told today.
"In the fourth quarter of this year, these savings will come in at a faster pace than in the past quarter," Unilever co-chairman Mr Antony Burgmans said at the company's AGM today.
In the first quarter, the company achieved euro 55 million in synergies from the Bestfoods integration.
Mr Burgmans said the company does not expect to suffer any negative effects from the current economic slowdown, as "people will continue to eat and brush their teeth".
The Anglo-Dutch consumer products group employs about 1,000 workers at its three Irish subsidiaries but the company made no specific reference to its Irish division.
About 650 people work at the group's Van den Bergh Foods division, whose activities include manufacturing and marketing the Lyons tea, Flora margarine, HB ice cream and Bird's Eye frozen food brands