In a statement, Mr
Jope, who took over from Paul Polman last year, said: "We desperately hope that we don't end up in a tariff-laden environment."
Jope said brands could be put on the block if they did not "contribute meaningfully to the world or society in a way that will last for decades".
Jefferies analyst Martin Deboo said the challenge for
Jope was "to articulate how his reformist agenda around marketing is going to deal with investor preoccupations around slow top-line growth".
However, relatively new chief executive Alan
Jope will equally have a close eye on emerging markets where the dynamics are more favourable to Unilever and plentiful opportunities to accelerate sales growth."
Jope added: "For the full year, we continue to expect underlying sales growth to be in the lower half of our multi-year 3% to 5% range, an improvement in underlying operating margin that keeps us on track for the 2020 target and another year of strong free cash flow.
Jope seems to have followed his predecessor, Paul Polman, by picking up businesses from premium cosmetics to the Vegetarian Butcher, a maker of plant based meat substitutes, to GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Indian consumer business.
Mr
Jope was promoted to chief executive from his previous position of president of the group's beauty and personal care division.
"We have built inventory on either side of the Channel,"
Jope said.
"A few weeks of extra inventory is one of the important steps we are taking to make sure that we minimise any disruption to our customers and consumers," said Alan
Jope, Unilever's new chief executive.
"A few weeks of extra inventory is one of the important steps we are taking to make sure that we minimize any disruption to our customers and consumers," Alan
Jope, Unilever's new chief executive, told reporters.
"A few weeks of extra inventory is one of the important steps we are taking to make sure that we minimise any disruption to our customers and consumers," Alan
Jope, Unilever's new chief executive, told reporters on Thursday.
Alan
Jope, currently president of beauty and personal care, has been appointed to the position, effective January 1, with Polman supporting the transition process during the first half of the year.