Unilever Slovakia's 1997 profits soar

The Anglo-Dutch food and detergents group, Unilever Plc, announced last month that the 1997 turnover at Unilever Slovakia s.r.o. was 2.0 billion crowns ($56.7 million), up from 1.5 billion crowns a year earlier. The company added that net profits had increased to 179 million Sk from 55 million in 1996. Unilever Slovakia was established five years ago and sells leading brands in the ice cream, vegetable fat and cosmetic sectors. "New products such as Kapitan Iglo fish fingers or new varieties of Lipton tea were introduced with success in 1997," the company said. Unilever announced that it would invest 700 million Sk ($20.5 million) in ice-cream production, storage and distribution in Slovakia beginning in 1999.