Unilever Chases Consumers by Focusing on Beauty Rather Than Food

Unilever Plc Chief Executive Officer Fernando Fernandez is following his predecessors in weighing a reduction in the group’s foodmaking operations to favor faster growth in areas like hair care and deodorants.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the London-based firm is in the early stages of weighing a separation of all or part of its food business, though no decisions have been made, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move, should it occur, could mark the end of Unilever’s nearly 100-year-old role competing with Big Food rivals like Kraft Heinz Co., Nestlé SA and PepsiCo Inc., and transform ...