FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November, 2006
UNILEVER PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
Exhibit 99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNILEVER PLC
/S/ S G WILLIAMS
By S G WILLIAMS
SECRETARY
Date: November 21, 2006
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99 Notice to London Stock Exchange dated
21 November 2006, Reshaping European Foods R&D
Exhibit 99
UNILEVER RESHAPES ITS EUROPEAN
FOODS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
ORGANISING FOR THE FUTURE
Unilever today announced plans to reshape its Foods R&D organisation in Europe
in order to further enable differentiated innovation. Foods R&D Europe will be
restructured to provide the focus and critical mass that can deliver innovations
for both the European and global market.
The reorganisation is part of the One Unilever programme to increase leverage of
its scale, improve its marketplace competitiveness, deliver functional
excellence, and create a more competitive cost-structure allowing it to
strengthen its focus on its consumers and customers.
Today's announcement follows an extensive Science & Technology Review led by
Vindi Banga, President of Unilever's Foods Category. Vindi Banga said: "The
review showed that we have great people and strong capabilities. However, it
also showed that by organising ourselves so that we could leverage our scale and
play to our strengths we could improve our market competitiveness. By getting
the benefits of focus and synergies I am convinced that today's announcement
will make a significant difference to our innovation delivery."
The new structure will see new product development concentrated in six Centres
of Excellence across Europe. Each of these Centres of Excellence will establish
a world-class technical capability that can be applied across the categories,
for global, regional and local innovations. In addition, local adaptation and
implementation of Foods innovations will be ensured through consolidated country
and factory teams.
Vindi Banga said: "Unilever will implement these changes sensitively and
professionally, with attention to all affected people. Unilever is committed to
working closely with works councils and employees to minimise redundancies and
to provide redundancy packages where needed, in line with local legislation and
circumstances."
Implementation of the changes in Unilever's European Foods R&D organisation will
commence in 2007 and be completed by the end of 2008.
November 21, 2006
Notes:
- The current European Foods R&D organisation employs 1,160 people in over 60
locations across Europe. As result of this reorganisation, Unilever will move to
29 Foods R&D locations in Europe. Unilever estimates that the reorganisation of
Foods R&D Europe will result in a loss of approximately 240 jobs due to the
change to a simpler, more focussed organisation. Unilever expects to relocate an
additional 260 jobs to the consolidated Foods R&D centres across Europe.
- Unilever has informed its employees and European works council about these
plans. The affected employees are being contacted to discuss personal impact and
next steps.
About Unilever -
Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for
nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good,
look good and get more out of life.
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods
with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its
portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands
including twelve EUR1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in
which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr,
Hellmann's, Flora, Bertolli, Dove, Lux, Pond's, Lynx, Sunsilk, Persil, Cif and
Domestos.
Unilever has around 206,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated
annual sales of EUR40 billion in 2005. For more information about Unilever and
its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding
anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not
historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among
others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the
ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain
sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions
and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the
ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters
within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,
political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the
Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of
potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the
Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts on
Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.