Unilever Smart to Spin Off Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum: Andrea Felsted

Unilever Plc is cutting the fat — in every sense. Chief Executive Officer Hein Schumacher plans to spin off its ice-cream business, including the Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s brands, to focus on higher growth categories such as premium beauty.

It’s the right thing to do. But Schumacher, who’s been in charge since July, shouldn’t end his restructuring there, nor can he afford any slip-ups in the underlying performance of the consumer giant.

After underwhelming investors with his strategic vision last October, Schumacher has quietly set about streamlining the portfolio. In December, he sold a collection of brands including Q-Tips and Timotei shampoo for an ...