FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Consumer staples / 6 October 2026
Consumer staples: sector news on Tuesday 6 October 2026
Average tone +1.4 (neutral) across 8 companies with relevant coverage, from 62 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diageo | −2.0 | 18 | Coverage was mixed: the closure of the Guinness Baltimore brewery and escalating strikes over job cuts weighed on sentiment, alongside a share price slipping to a session low. |
| Unilever | +2.0 | 14 | Analyst support from JP Morgan and the run-up to the Q3 update after 4.8 percent H1 growth were positive. |
| British American Tobacco | +1.3 | 10 | Coverage was mixed: a Jefferies target increase and dividend yield appeal were offset by cautious guidance, a muted strategy day and a Nigerian court damages order. |
| Associated British Foods | −0.7 | 6 | Coverage was mostly share price updates ahead of annual results, with small moves either way. |
| Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | +0.7 | 5 | Coverage was mixed, with Wells Fargo lowering its price target and UBS staying at Neutral. |
| Reckitt | +5.7 | 5 | Coverage was mostly upbeat, led by UBS raising its price target and a report of Q2 growth carrying into Q3. |
| Coca-Cola HBC | +7.5 | 3 | Coverage was mainly about the Northern Ireland business, with higher turnover helped by coffee and energy drinks and Lisburn profits up 14%. |
| Imperial Brands | −3.0 | 1 | Coverage was limited to one piece weighing Imperial Brands' growth against falling profit, which leans slightly negative. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +10.0 Fizz is back for Coca-Cola in Lisburn as profits sparkle by 14%
Lisburn operation profits up 14%, showing strong regional performance. - +9.2 Coffee and energy drinks add to high 2025 turnover at Coca-Cola HBC in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland unit reports high turnover driven by coffee and energy drinks.} - +9.2 UBS raises target for Reckitt Benckiser stock from GBp 7,400 to GBp 7,600
UBS raised price target on Reckitt - −8.3 Diageo workers extend strikes as job cuts loom
Extended strikes and looming job cuts hurt reputation and operations. - +8.3 Court throws out class action over Diageo’s ‘100% agave’ claim
Class action over agave claim dismissed, removing legal risk. - +8.3 Diageo gets ‘100% agave’ lawsuit thrown out as judge questions tequila tests
Lawsuit thrown out as judge questions tests; favourable ruling. - +7.5 Jefferies raises target for British American Tobacco stock
Jefferies raises price target. - −7.5 Strike action at Diageo Fife distillery to escalate
Strike action at Fife distillery set to escalate. - +7.5 Reckitt Benckiser stock carries 4.2 percent Q2 growth into Q3
Stock carrying Q2 growth into Q3; positive momentum - +7.5 Unilever on JP Morgan positive watch as Haleon faces caution
JP Morgan places Unilever on positive watch before Q3 - +7.2 JP Morgan places Unilever on positive watch and Haleon on negative ahead of Q3 results.
Positive watch from JP Morgan ahead of Q3 results - +7.0 Unilever PLC : JP Morgan reiterates its Buy rating
JP Morgan reiterates Buy rating