Unilever has recorded an underlying sales growth of 3.9% to €14.7bn in the third quarter of its financial year, beating expectations.

The multinational consumer goods group said that this figure increased by 4% when excluding its ice cream division, with volume growth totalling 1.5%.

The firm’s power brands division recorded underlying sales growth of 4.4%, while contributing to 78% of the group’s turnover, which dropped by 3.5% year-on-year.

The announcement comes after Unilever announced that it has delayed its ice cream division demerger, following the US federal Government shutdown.

The group said that the demerger is set to take place before the end of the year, creating a "simpler Unilever" with a sharper focus on structurally higher margin profile.

Chief executive officer at Unilever, Fernando Fernandez, said: "We continued to outperform in developed markets in the third quarter, led by our strong innovation programme, and, following decisive interventions, stepped up our emerging markets performance with a return to growth in Indonesia and China. Growth was broad based across all business groups and driven by our power brands.

"We're shaping a brand portfolio that's built for the future - with more beauty, wellbeing and personal care, prioritising premium segments and digital commerce, and anchoring our growth in the US and India. By putting desire at scale at the core of our strategy, and executing with excellence across every channel, we're setting Unilever up to win."

Unilever reiterated its outlook for the year, with underlying sales growth expected to reach between 3% and 5%.

Its second half growth is set to be ahead of the first half, despite "subdued market conditions".

It added that this reflects its "continued strength in developed markets and improving performance in emerging markets".

Investment director at AJ Bell, Russ Mould, said that the latest update will ease any concerns around delays to the ice cream demerger.

He concluded: "Underlying sales growth came in ahead of expectations although there may be some disappointment that the company has left full-year guidance unchanged despite better-than-expected third-quarter trading.

"Under recently appointed Fernandez, the company is focusing on reducing its cost base and bolstering its margins. The ice cream demerger is not the only evidence of streamlining under Fernandez with the company also offloading brands like The Vegetarian Butcher.

"Unilever is still saying the process will be completed before the end of the year but like a toddler whose ice cream scoop is teetering out of its cone, it’s not something over which it has much control."

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