Multinational suppliers for the cosmetics and toiletries industries
are facing increasing competition from China, while Japan continues
to offer innovation, says a new report from Kline and Company.
Having increased its offer to buy out leading personal care
supplier Engelhard, Germany-based BASF is looking more and more
likely to be successful in its hostile takeover bid.
Having confirmed strong sales growth for the first three months of
the year, German cosmetics giant Beiersdorf says it is expecting to
build on growth during the course of 2006.
Swiss biotech company Lonza has announced the latest move to expand
its ingredients portfolio, with the acquisition of the larch
arabinogalactan assets of US firm Larex.
Procter & Gamble has reported a 37 per cent jump in its
profits, but share prices fell after the company revealed that its
sales had failed to meet with expectations on the back of inventory
cut-backs by Wal-Mart and slower than...
Two of the leading cosmetic players in the US have simultaneously
posted a big drop in their profits as they are hit by costs
associated with restructuring plans that aim to shape up the
businesses.
The Body Shop says that widespread criticism of its merger with
French cosmetics giant L'Oreal has failed to have an impact on the
stronger performance the company has experienced throughout the
financial year.
Avon has reported a 67 per cent drop in its first quarter net
income as restructuring charges aimed at reinvigorating sales hit
the company's bottom line.
Leading Japanese and global cosmetics player Shiseido has pulled
back into profit following improved sales and reduced labour costs,
but it is predicting that sales growth will slip in the coming year
as a result of competition.
Colgate-Palmolive has successfully implemented increased pricing
and a greater emphasis on higher margin goods to help boost its
first quarter results despite the challenge of facing stiff
restructuring costs.
Sweden-based direct sales player Oriflame says it will continue to
focus its plans for sustained growth on Eastern Europe and
Mediterranean regions, following the publication of its 2005
financial report.
As Avon continues to make major cut backs, analysts and market
experts are being won over as the company's position starts to look
stronger following a difficult two year period.
BASF's hostile takeover bid for leading personal care supplier
Engelhard is looking more likely after it was acknowledged that the
Germany-based chemicals giant has been allowed to look at sections
of Engelhard's accounts.
A record financial year for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is
supported by a strong performance from the company's cosmetics and
fragrance operations, boosted by the Dior brand as well as an
increasing market share for its...
German cosmetic and toiletries giant Beiersdorf says it will be
realigning its Dutch and Swedish facilities as part of the second
stage of restructuring plans that aim to save €100m a year in
production costs.
Leading cosmetics and toiletries contract player Creative
Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) has secured an
investment restructuring plan that will help the company in its
ambitions to become one of the leading contract players...
German consumer goods group Henkel is aiming to strengthen its
cosmetic and toiletries operations with the purchase of Gillette's
Right Guard deodorant business in the US, a deal that forms part of
requirements to comply with...
German cosmetics giant and marketer of the Nivea brand, Beiersdorf,
says it is poised to grow organically, with the Asian and men's
personal care market likely areas for investment.
After months of speculation the UK's leading retailer has announced
it plans to enter the United States retail market through the
convenience sector, where its cosmetics and toiletries offerings
could give the edge on the competition.
Oriflame says that euro currency sales growth of 24 per cent in its
fourth quarter, ending in December - a strong end to a year marked
by restructuring and a major push into developing markets.
Playtex Products has posted a significant drop in its Q4 results,
hurt by charges and lost sales from smaller brands that it has sold
on as part of its plans to restructure.
Unilever sales grew by just 2 per cent in 2005, putting them in the
shadows as arch rival P&G takes the number one consumer goods
spot following last year's purchase of Gillette.
Direct sales giant Avon has reported a 36.7 per cent drop in its Q4
income as it tackles fierce competition and rising costs. The
disappointing results coincide with the decision to pull out of the
Indonesia market, which also knocked...
An increase in sales of 11 per cent at LVMH over the course of 2005
was let down by relatively subdued activity at the luxury goods
maker's cosmetic and fragrance division.
German personal care giant Beiersdorf says it wants to achieve a
5.5 per cent of the global market for personal care products by the
year 2010 and will be particularly looking to the markets of China,
India, Brazil and Russia to help...
BASF's hostile takeover bid on leading personal care supplier looks
set to be a rocky road, with Engelhard executives warning
stockholders to be cautious over the offer and investors suggesting
that the bid will have to be raised...
Despite tough market conditions, particularly in the all-important
German market, Beiersdorf says its preliminary year-end results
indicate sales growth of 5.1 per cent, while profit after tax rose
by 7 per cent.
Rio Tinto, a leading Anglo-Australian mineral producer, has
announced that it will consolidate three of its subsidiaries,
including talc producer Luzenac, with two other subsidiaries to
form Rio Tinto Minerals.
In Japan the long drawn-out bidding war for the cosmetics arm of
consumer giant Kanebo has come to an end after Kao sealed a deal
totalling ¥410 billion (€2.93bn), taking it a notch or two up in
the global cosmetic stakes.
Avon has made changes to its global management structure that
reflect the importance of its key growth areas of Eastern Europe
and China, as markets in Western Europe and the US continue to
suffer from a prolonged period of stagnation.
The battle for Japaneseconsumer giant Kanebo and its cosmetics
division has been narrowed down to three players that include
Japanese personal care giant Kao, and investment groups that
include European and US companies.
Global packaging provider Rexam is expanding its US business,
announcing this week that it is set to acquire plastic packaging
firm Precise Technology- a move that will expand its capabilities
in both the beauty and food categories.
Despite the lull in its domestic market, German personal care
player Beiersdorf has revealed steady results for the first nine
months of the year, prompting the company to increase its
expectations for full year sales.
Leading Japanese cosmetic producer has posted stronger than
expected nine month results, putting it in a better position as it
gears up for a final tender in early December.
Revlon's ambition to inject greater dynamism in its brand portfolio
has resulted in a drop in its third quarter sales. A heavy
investment in the Almay brand combined with a fall in product
shipping in the US market adds to the...
Direct sales giant Avon has posted a seven percent drop in its
third quarter net profit. A continued lull in US sales was further
exacerbated by the impact of increasing fuel costs due to Hurrican
Katrina - a problem that the company...
Kimberly-Clark has reported that its price rises have helped to
off-set soaring energy and raw material costs, allowing it to meet
market expectations for the third quarter.
Procter & Gamble will become the biggest player in the UK
cosmetic and toiletry markers once its merger with Gillette is
complete, over-taking current market leader Unilever. But it may
not be a smooth path ahead, a market report...
Body Shop International said that its latest results for the six
months up to 27 August showed new lines featuring exotic community
trade ingredients such as Brazilian babbusu nut oil and Zambian
honey have been a major driving force...
Procter & Gamble has signaled that it plans to make more use of
palm oil in its shampoos and detergents instead of relying mainly
on crude oil, which likely to be subject to volatile price changes
in the future.
L'Oreal has pulled out of the bidding for beleaguered Japanese
household and cosmetics group Kanebo, citing a lack of Synergy with
its existing brands.
American direct marketer Nu Skin is setting up operations in Russia
at the beginning of next year, and has tapped one of its most
successful European executives to lead the new venture.
The second round of bids for Japanese household and cosmetics group
Kanebo were submitted yesterday by ten Japanese and foreign groups
of companies, many of which have made joint offers for the JPY400
billion (€2.95bn) company.
Swedish direct sales company Oriflame has said that it expects
sales to grow at faster rates, but that significant investments,
particularly in the China and Russia markets, will impact operating
margins.
Rexam is expanding its plastics packaging business in a tough
market, announcing that today it has agreed to purchase a US maker
of injection-moulded jars and closures for £83m (€123m) - a move
that will expand its capabilities in...
Estee Lauder has reported a six per cent fall in its profits
despite a significant hike in its sales for its fourth quarter. The
company said that large tax charges and increased expenses had led
to the decline, but a rise in earnings...
International consumer goods maker Sara Lee has confirmed that it
is selling its direct sales cosmetics business to Tupperware for
$577 million. The move forms part of the company's bid to redefine
its over-stretched product...