v3.25.4
Goodwill and intangible assets - Summary of Movements in Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details)
€ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
EUR (€)
company
Dec. 31, 2024
EUR (€)
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period € 40,901  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period € 34,764 € 40,901
Number of brands with significant carrying value | company 5  
Cominex    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Reclassification to held for sale   (17)
Elida Beauty    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Reclassification to held for sale   (532)
Cost    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period € 46,765 44,840
Additions through business combinations 1,873 692
Disposal of businesses (54) (600)
Distributed through demerger (4,109)  
Reclassification to held for sale   (99)
Additions 177 233
Disposals and other movements (134) 120
Hyperinflationary adjustment (120) 318
Currency retranslation (3,926) 1,261
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 40,472 46,765
Accumulated amortisation and impairment    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (5,864) (5,374)
Distributed through demerger 58  
Disposals and other movements 133 36
Currency retranslation 263 (151)
Amortisation/impairment for the year (298) (375)
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (5,708) (5,864)
Goodwill    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 22,311  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 17,709 22,311
Goodwill | Cost    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 23,471 22,266
Additions through business combinations 764 310
Disposal of businesses (4) (60)
Distributed through demerger (3,322)  
Reclassification to held for sale   (47)
Additions 0 0
Disposals and other movements (6) 132
Hyperinflationary adjustment (108) 284
Currency retranslation (1,929) 586
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 18,866 23,471
Goodwill | Accumulated amortisation and impairment    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (1,160) (1,157)
Distributed through demerger 0  
Disposals and other movements 0 (3)
Currency retranslation 3 0
Amortisation/impairment for the year 0 0
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (1,157) (1,160)
Indefinite-life intangible assets    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 17,856  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 16,455 17,856
Indefinite-life intangible assets | Cost    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 18,337 17,967
Additions through business combinations 1,108 382
Disposal of businesses (49) (510)
Distributed through demerger (712)  
Reclassification to held for sale   (47)
Additions 6 3
Disposals and other movements 9 2
Hyperinflationary adjustment (12) 34
Currency retranslation (1,722) 506
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 16,965 18,337
Indefinite-life intangible assets | Accumulated amortisation and impairment    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (481) (345)
Distributed through demerger 0  
Disposals and other movements 1 0
Currency retranslation 18 (9)
Amortisation/impairment for the year (48) (127)
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (510) (481)
Software    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 678  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 585 678
Software | Cost    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 3,801 3,483
Additions through business combinations 1 0
Disposal of businesses (1) (26)
Distributed through demerger (43)  
Reclassification to held for sale   (5)
Additions 170 229
Disposals and other movements (72) (23)
Hyperinflationary adjustment 0 0
Currency retranslation (217) 143
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 3,639 3,801
Software | Accumulated amortisation and impairment    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (3,123) (2,841)
Distributed through demerger 34  
Disposals and other movements 71 47
Currency retranslation 186 (116)
Amortisation/impairment for the year (222) (213)
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (3,054) (3,123)
Other    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 56  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 15 56
Other | Cost    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,156 1,124
Additions through business combinations 0 0
Disposal of businesses 0 (4)
Distributed through demerger (32)  
Reclassification to held for sale   0
Additions 1 1
Disposals and other movements (65) 9
Hyperinflationary adjustment 0 0
Currency retranslation (58) 26
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,002 1,156
Other | Accumulated amortisation and impairment    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period (1,100) (1,031)
Distributed through demerger 24  
Disposals and other movements 61 (8)
Currency retranslation 56 (26)
Amortisation/impairment for the year (28) (35)
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period (987) (1,100)
Horlicks    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 2,719  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 2,310 2,719
Knorr    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,860  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,793 1,860
Paula's Choice    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,807  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,602 1,807
Hellmann's    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,285  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period 1,161 1,285
Carver Korea    
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items]    
Intangible assets and goodwill at beginning of period 1,278  
Intangible assets and goodwill at end of period € 1,158 € 1,278