Dove maker’s deal with local manufacturer Arnest Group includes four factories

Unilever has sold off its Russian operations to a local manufacturing group after pressure from campaigners who have claimed that the the presence of the Dove and Ben & Jerry’s owner in the country was supporting the war in Ukraine.

Arnest Group, a Russian manufacturer of perfume, cosmetics and household products will take control of Unilever Rus, which includes four factories, as well as the group’s interests in Belarus. Arnest is owned by the businessman Alexei Sagal and bought the brewer Heineken’s business in the country last summer.