Unilever plans to cut 175 jobs and sell off four products in a move to improve organization and increase investment in its home and personal care business.

The job cuts will affect salaried employees across the U.S. and will be completed by February, the company said.

Unilever said last week that it had agreed to sell four home-care brands to investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. The sale includes Niagara products and Touch fabric softeners in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, RIT fabric-dye products world wide, and the exclusive licensing rights to Sunlight dishwashing detergents in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, according to news reports.

The home and personal care division markets such brands as Dove and Suave skin care, hair care and wash products, Surf laundry detergents, Snuggles products, Axe deodorant body spray for men and Q-tips cotton swabs.

In addition, Unilever, with $47 billion in annual sales in 2002, plans to consolidate its Connecticut facilities in one location by moving employees in the Greenwich facility to the Trumbull location. The relocation begins in second quarter 2004.

Unilever plans to cut 175 jobs and sell off four products in a move to improve organization and increase investment in its home and personal care business.

The job cuts will affect salaried employees across the U.S. and will be completed by February, the company said.

Unilever said last week that it had agreed to sell four home-care brands to investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. The sale includes Niagara products and Touch fabric softeners in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, RIT fabric-dye products world wide, and the exclusive licensing rights to Sunlight dishwashing detergents in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, according to news reports.

The home and personal care division markets such brands as Dove and Suave skin care, hair care and wash products, Surf laundry detergents, Snuggles products, Axe deodorant body spray for men and Q-tips cotton swabs.

In addition, Unilever, with $47 billion in annual sales in 2002, plans to consolidate its Connecticut facilities in one location by moving employees in the Greenwich facility to the Trumbull location. The relocation begins in second quarter 2004.