diff --git a/src/TrueCV.Infrastructure/Services/CompanyVerifierService.cs b/src/TrueCV.Infrastructure/Services/CompanyVerifierService.cs
index 2aff125..3edad7e 100644
--- a/src/TrueCV.Infrastructure/Services/CompanyVerifierService.cs
+++ b/src/TrueCV.Infrastructure/Services/CompanyVerifierService.cs
@@ -843,6 +843,28 @@ public sealed class CompanyVerifierService : ICompanyVerifierService
             }
         }
 
+        // Step 0c: Try first word as potential parent company (e.g., "UNILEVER BESTFOOD" -> "UNILEVER")
+        // Many company names are "ParentCompany Division" or "ParentCompany Brand"
+        var words = normalized.Split(' ', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
+        if (words.Length >= 2)
+        {
+            var firstWord = words[0];
+            // Only try if first word is substantial (not "The", "A", common prefixes)
+            var skipWords = new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                { "the", "a", "an", "uk", "british", "national", "international", "global", "new" };
+
+            if (firstWord.Length >= 4 && !skipWords.Contains(firstWord))
+            {
+                foreach (var firstWordQuery in GenerateNameVariations(firstWord))
+                {
+                    queries.Add(firstWordQuery);
+                }
+                // Also try first word + PLC/Limited for major corporations
+                queries.Add(firstWord + " PLC");
+                queries.Add(firstWord + " Limited");
+            }
+        }
+
         // Also add variations of the full original name
         foreach (var query in GenerateNameVariations(normalized))
         {