FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Consumer staples / 30 September 2026
Consumer staples: sector news on Wednesday 30 September 2026
Average tone +3.7 (positive) across 8 companies with relevant coverage, from 67 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| British American Tobacco | +2.0 | 20 | Coverage focused on the Horizon 2030 strategy from the Capital Markets Day, with its emphasis on Modern Oral, smokeless growth and a 3%-5% target, which was received positively. |
| Diageo | +3.3 | 18 | Coverage was mostly product launches such as McDowell's No.1, Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Smirnoff Ice, plus lower scotch prices in India. |
| Unilever | +3.7 | 15 | Coverage was mostly positive, focused on sustainability progress in the Philippines, extra Egypt export capacity for Sunsilk, a packaging research consortium and brand campaigns. |
| Coca-Cola HBC | +8.5 | 4 | Coverage centred on the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa deal, with Berenberg keeping its Buy rating and a commentary piece pointing to faster growth. |
| Associated British Foods | −2.2 | 3 | Coverage was mixed, with persistent sugar risks weighing on the share price and questions over British Sugar's Cantley site. |
| Imperial Brands | +4.0 | 3 | Coverage centred on Imperial's half-year earnings per share rising 5.30 percent, with a slightly lower after-hours share price. |
| Reckitt | +7.5 | 3 | Coverage centred on a share price rally, with shares up almost 3% on new health and hygiene growth drivers. |
| Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | +3.0 | 1 | Coverage was thin, with only one relevant piece on the company's brand initiatives and logistics, which reads mildly positive. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +9.7 Berenberg Updates Coca-Cola HBC Forecasts Amid Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Deal; Buy Rating Kept
Berenberg keeps Buy and updates forecasts around Africa deal. - +9.2 Coca-Cola HBC stock reports 9.60 percent revenue growth
Reports 9.6 percent revenue growth, solid trading. - +8.7 Reckitt Benckiser shares gain almost 3% after new health and hygiene growth drivers emerge
Shares up almost 3% on new health and hygiene growth drivers - +8.3 Coca-Cola HBC Eyes Faster Growth With Coca-Cola Beverages Africa
Africa deal framed as route to faster growth. - −8.3 Workers protest plan to axe jobs at drinks giant
Workers protest job cuts at drinks giant. - −7.5 Why is British American Tobacco stock sliding today?
Stock sliding on the day - +7.5 Happy Hours! UK trade pact brings scotch prices down in India
UK-India trade pact lowers scotch prices, helping Diageo's India sales. - +7.5 Reckitt Benckiser stock reports 2.7 percent H1 growth
Reports 2.7 percent half-year growth - +7.5 Unilever expands Egypt export capacity with Sunsilk production line
Expands Egypt export capacity with new Sunsilk line. - −7.0 Will The Cameronbridge Strike Test FTSE 100 Drinks Giant Diageo (LSE:DGE) And Its Whisky Supply?
Strike at Cameronbridge threatens whisky supply. - −6.7 BAT stock after-hours at EUR 48.33: minus 2.07 percent
Shares fell over 2% after hours - +6.7 BATS: Sharpened strategy prioritizes Modern Oral and new categories, targeting strong growth to 2030
Strategy targets strong growth to 2030 via Modern Oral