(Reuters) -Unilever ( UL ) on Thursday reported worse-than-expected underlying quarterly sales after it was unable to win back shoppers it had alienated in recent years with higher prices.

Unilever ( UL ), which makes Dove soap and Hellmann's condiments, reported a 3.9% rise in second-quarter underlying sales, missing analysts' average forecast of a 4.2% increase, a company-compiled consensus showed.

Underlying price growth for the quarter was 1%, behind market expectations of up 1.6%.