(Reuters) -Unilever's ( UL ) first-quarter sales grew by a better than expected 4.4%, it said on Thursday, as one of the world's biggest consumer goods companies won back shoppers who had traded down to cheaper products.

Unilever ( UL ), which makes products ranging from Dove soaps to Hellmann's mayonnaise, said it was confident in its ability to deliver sustained volume growth and maintained its full-year outlook.

The company increased its sales volumes by 2.2%, its second quarter of growth after several consecutive quarters of volumes falling. It raised prices by 2.2% during the quarter.

Analysts had expected sales volumes to rise by 1.2% and prices to increase by 1.8%. Its underlying sales growth of 4.4% was above the 3% estimate seen by the analysts in a company-provided consensus.