Reckitt Benckiser’s chief executive, Kris Licht, has said the household goods giant is prioritising the safety of its 400-strong workforce in the Middle East as the Iran conflict enters its sixth day. The firm has closed a factory in Bahrain for safety reasons and instructed all regional staff to work from home following the outbreak of war last week.
Mr Licht told the Press Association that it was “too early” to specify whether supply routes and prices would be affected by the fast-evolving situation. “Our overwhelming focus at the moment is on the safety and well-being of our employees and their families,” he said, adding that the company wants to support those living and working in affected communities.
The comments came as Reckitt cautioned that a weak cold and flu season globally and challenging trading in Europe would hit performance at the start of 2026. The firm reported that pre-tax profits jumped to £3.8 billion in 2025, up from £2.1 billion in 2024, boosted by a 5% rise in like-for-like sales. However, underlying profits rose just 5.2% on a constant currency basis, and European sales fell 1.4% due to lower demand for cold and flu treatments and a “challenging consumer environment”.
Shares in the company fell 6% as the gloomy outlook overshadowed the results. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said investors would take all assumptions “with a big pinch of salt” given that prices globally are likely to rise due to the Middle East situation. “Reckitt’s results couldn’t come at a worse time,” he added.
