European sales slowed from 2.7 per cent in the third quarter last year to 0.7 per cent on an underlying basis as poor weather saw consumer demand wane for its ice cream brands, which include Ben & Jerry's and Magnum. ICI said European market conditions were varied in the period, and while Asia and Latin America remained strong, North America continued to be challenging, particularly for paints. Unilever said the sweeping restructuring plans announced in August - which will see 20,000 jobs cut over the next four years - had begun to bear fruit in its European operation.