LONDON — Unilever has began the yr on a high, with underlying sales up 10.5 percent to 14.8 billion euros in the primary fiscal quarter and a positive outlook for the yr ahead.

The maker of brands starting from Dove to Domestos said that sales rose 7 percent year-on-year within the three months to March 31, driven by a mixture of price and volume growth.

Inflation continues to drive up input costs and sticker prices, although Unilever said it expects to see the impact soften “significantly” because the yr progresses. The corporate shouldn’t be expecting cost deflation, nonetheless.

For the total fiscal yr, Unilever is anticipating “strong, underlying sales growth” with an improved volume performance compared with last yr.

Growth will probably be “not less than” within the upper end of Unilever’s multi-year range of three percent to five percent. The corporate said that underlying price growth will remain high in the primary half, and decline through the yr.

Chief executive officer Alan Jope, who’s stepping down later this yr and making way for his substitute Hein Schumacher, noted that growth was broad-based across the corporate and geographic regions.

He said that throughout the quarter Unilever “stepped up each the effectiveness of our innovation and the investment behind our brands. We proceed to shift our portfolio into higher growth spaces. Our latest operating model is driving focused resource allocation and is unlocking a culture of bolder, faster decision-making and disciplined execution,” he added.

Overall, sales within the Beauty & Wellbeing category rose to three.1 billion euros in the primary quarter, up 9.3 percent on an underlying basis, and up 13.3 percent compared with the corresponding period last yr.

Unilever said that Vaseline and Pond’s delivered double-digit growth, supported by innovations with “additional consumer advantages,” corresponding to the premium Gluta-Hya serum which guarantees to revitalize skin overnight and boost elasticity.

Strong performance within the division also got here from a double-digit growth within the sub-categories of Prestige Beauty and Health & Wellbeing, which together account for five percent of Unilever’s group turnover.

Unilever said that Paula’s Alternative, Hourglass and Liquid I.V., the hydrating electrolyte drink mix, contributed “strongly” to the uptick in prestige and wellbeing sales.

In a report following the outcomes on Thursday, RBC Europe noted that Unilever has followed other staples firms in the primary quarter with sales “handsomely exceeding” company-compiled consensus expectations.