March 20 (Reuters) – Unilever said on Friday it was in talks with U.S.-based McCormick & Company about selling its foods business, which includes brands such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr soups and seasonings.
Unilever said it has received an inbound offer for the business. There can be no certainty that a deal will be agreed, the companies said in separate statements.
A possible agreement will bring Unilever’s popular brands like Coleman and Marmite and Maryland-based McCormick’s iconic Cholula hot sauce under one roof.
The talks come months after the conglomerate spun-off its ice cream brand Magnum Ice Cream Company as it shifts focus towards higher-return personal and beauty categories.
Unilever’s food business, contributed about a quarter of its total sales in 2025 at over 12.9 billion euros ($14.91 billion), while its personal care and beauty businesses accounted for over half of it.
($1 = 0.8650 euros)
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi and Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
