By Joel Julien

Copyright trinidadexpress

UNILEVER PLC is set to sell its laundry detergent portfolio in the Caribbean and Central America, which includes household names Breeze and Radiante.

The move comes just two months after the company divested its local ice cream operations, and follows the December 2022 sale of its Champs Fleurs property.

“Unilever plc has taken the decision to divest its laundry brands in the Caribbean and Central America, subject to the satisfactions of certain conditions precedent, including the receipt of regulatory consents in relevant jurisdictions,” Unilever stated in a Notice to Shareholders published in today’s newspaper.

“The divestment will include the transfer of trademark rights in several solution washing brands including the brands known as ‘Breeze’ and ‘Radiante’, which are currently being marketed and distributed in Trinidad and Tobago by Unilever Caribbean Ltd,” it stated.

The note to shareholders is pursuant to Section 64(1)(b) of the Securities Act 2012.

“In anticipation of the local transactions arising out of this proposed divestment the board of directors of UCL on September 11 approved the submission of an application to the Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission to satisfy the regulatory requirements arising from the proposed transfer of the brands ‘Breeze’ and ‘Radiante’ in the Trinidad and Tobago market,” it stated.

Last year, Breeze celebrated its 60th anniversary in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Breeze is synonymous with the Trinidadian culture and laundry habits since 1964. The brand has stood the test of time regardless of the way the market has evolved. We continue to innovate to consumer needs and evolve to continue to be a part of T&T’s future,” UCL stated in its latest annual report.

“As part of the anniversary, Unilever Caribbean Ltd introduced a new scent—Breeze Lavender Powdered Detergent, with new packaging and a pioneering formula that is the recipe for the perfect wash, with more biodegradable enzymes and optic brighteners for the fastest stain removal yet. The new formula contains a four-cocktail enzyme: Savinase, Amylase, Lipase and Mannanase, which all target day-to-day stains, allowing consumers to live life stain-free,” it stated.

In its annual report, acting managing director Ginelle Lambie noted that despite the growing “commoditisation” of fabric cleaning powders and mounting price pressures on its brands Radiante and Breeze, UCL continued to reinvest in these “hallmark brands” through targeted pricing strategies and ongoing product innovations.

UCL’s Home Care division encompasses a variety of products, including powder and liquid laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, dishwashing liquids, and general-purpose cleaners.

“Despite a highly competitive market, Home Care reported revenue growth of 2% from prior year, and accounted for 33.4% of total revenue in 2024, down from 36.6% in the prior year,” Lambie stated in the annual report.

In July UCL announced the sale of its ice cream business and the transfer of operations on July 1 to a newly incorporated ice cream holding company in the Unilever Group. UCL’s ice cream business includes brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, and Wall’s.

“The company recently announced the sale of its ice cream business and the transfer of operations on July 1, 2025, to a newly incorporated ice cream holding company within the Unilever Group. This separation aligns with our long-term vision to streamline operations and focus on core categories that drive sustainable growth. The ice cream category represented on average 3% of UCL’s revenue in 2024 and for reporting purposes have been recorded under discontinued operations in our financial statements this quarter,” stated its financial statement for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

UCL is now headquartered at Albion Plaza on Victoria Avenue in Port of Spain, after selling its Champs Fleurs facility, where it was based for 63 years.

UCL recorded an after-tax profit of $25.1 million for the first half of the year ended June 30, 2025. This represented an 80.8% or $11.2m increase over the same period in 2024. Revenue for the six-month period was $136.8m, up 13.6% compared to the same period in 2024.