Unilever, Nestle and other consumer giants woo investors with cash rewards

As predators loom, consumer giants step up shareholder rewards

Unilever, Nestle SA and other consumer giants are wooing investors with cash rewards as they lose the pricing power that’s historically driven sales growth and predators circle the industry.

Unilever, the maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, said Thursday that it plans a 6 billion-euro ($7.4 billion) share buyback, while distiller Pernod Ricard SA will boost its dividend. In adopting more shareholder-friendly stances, they’re following Nestle, which is buying back as much as $21 billion of its stock.

The moves come as Nestle, Unilever and rival Procter & Gamble Co. find it ever harder to raise prices, with