Food and consumer products giant Unilever said Thursday profits soared 22.4 percent in the first half of 2017, raking in 3.3 billion euros for the Anglo-Dutch firm which spurned a takeover bid by US rival Kraft Heinz.

The results showed "a substantial step-up in profitability despite the persisting volatile global trading environment," chief executive Paul Polman said in a statement.

source: AFP