Swiss fragrance and flavors giant Givaudan will open a new perfume
creation centre in East Hannover, billed as the most
technologically advanced facility of its kind.
With China consumers buying up personal care and cosmetic products
at unprecedented rates opportunities for abound for investors, but
a new financial report advises caution.
US-headquartered Univar, a worldwide provider of personal care chemicals, has announced that its US subsidiary is to acquire the Chemcentral Corporation in a deal valued at $600m.
The global market for biocides used in the production of personal
care products has grown by 40 per cent since 1996 to reach a value
$570m, despite the fact that growth in demand is falling in the US.
The global personal care player released audited figures that
confirm a strong performance during 2006, giving the company reason
to upgrade its outlook for 2007 and reconfirming that it is on the
acquisition trail.
L'Oreal has yet again reported booming operating profits, driven by
lucrative acquisitions such as natural cosmetics company, The Body
Shop and product innovations – but despite the continued rise, net
earnings came in below...
Sales of cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances in France grew at 5.7
per cent in 2006, the fastest rate of increase in five years and a
figure that puts it well ahead of average industry growth, both
within France and the European...
Oriflame is going strong in the direct sales market after the
company reported a massive 20 per cent boost in sales for 2006 on
the back of strong skin care and colour cosmetics sales, despite
disappointing net profits.
Avon's turn around is starting to happen, after the company
reported a 9 per cent boost in sales for the fourth quarter on the
back of strong fragrance and color sales.
Profits are up at Estee Lauder, prompting the company to increase
its full-year outlook, driven by strong sales growth in all
categories together with the benefits of cost saving initiatives.
Not only has the acquisition of Gillette helped global giant
Procter & Gamble to boost its sales, subsequent synergies and
consolidation have helped the company achieve strong profit growth.
Dental care and toiletries giant Colgate-Palmolive has announced a
big rise in net profits for its fourth quarter off the back of
strong sales driven by a particularly big rise in both the European
and Latin American markets.
L'Oreal has met its targets for 2006 after reporting a strong
fourth quarter results, driven by renewed vigour in the Western
European markets and a continued strong performance in new markets
such as Russia and China.
Cosmetics giant L'Oreal has added three new members to its
executive committee, in a move aimed at emphasizing its focus on
the group's active cosmetics division, together with the increasing
importance of the Asian and...
Avon Products has filed a new report with the US Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) outlining the latest initiatives for its
ongoing restructuring plan, leading to further charges of up to
$15m for redundancy and organizational...
The rapid evolution of the natural and organics cosmetic market in
Europe and the US is leading to increasing opportunities for
Western companies in the Asian market.
This year L'Oreal, the world's largest cosmetic player, increased
its footprint in the naturals and organic market with the purchase
of The Body Shop and Sanoflore - acquisitions that are likely to
lead to further activity...
By 2010 China is set to surpass South Korea as the second biggest
market for global leader Estee Lauder, according to a company
executive based in China.
As the China market for direct sales opens its doors to more and
more international companies, the number of players trying to tap
into what is tipped to be a thriving growth market has swelled
after US businesses Mary Kay and Amway...
Migami, a US-based company that has made its name developing and
testing clean air technology, has acquired assets in the company
Innovay, giving it a new direction purchasing licensing rights for
cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
Swiss flavours and fragrance manufacturers, Givaudan, has bought
Quest International, a move that consildates Givaudan stance as
market leaders within the fragrance industry.
Germany-based cosmetics and home care producer Henkel has announced
strong results, driven higher by a particularly good performance
from its cosmetics division.
Cosmetic and fragrance giant Elizabeth Arden posted a quarterly
loss on Friday, as it was hit by restructuring costs, but with
marketing spend lower than expected and sales still strong, the
underlying results appear to be solid.
Unilever has reported a 45 per cent drop in profits despite
universal sales growth and a particularly strong performance in its
personal care business.
Barbie license holder Mattel says it has forged a deal with
cosmetic specialist MAC that should see Barbie branded cosmetics
aimed at adults hit store shelves in the spring of next year.
Proctor & Gamble has reported a 27 per cent increase in its
sales and a 33 per cent increase in net earnings as the company
continues to power away on the strength of last year's merger with
Gillette and a continued improvement...
Despite sales rising significantly, profits at Avon have been hit
by a rising ad spend, restructuring costs and charges relating to a
tax dispute in the company's UK arm.
Kimberley-Clark has reported a significant boost in net sales and
income, with particular strength in the personal care sector,
helped by major cost reductions throughout the company.
The world's leading cosmetic player has further expanded its
position in the naturals market with the acquisition of French
Laboratoire Sanoflore, one of the founding companies specialising
in the manufacturing of certified organic...
Sensient Technologies, supplier of fragrances and colors for
cosmetic products, has reported a significant increase in both its
sales revenue and its net profits on the back of strong activity in
both the US and China markets.
A continued and growing recognition of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis
Vuitton brands has helped the group to put in another strong
quarter, with sales of its major French cosmetic and fragrance
brands also making a mark.
On the back of rising international demand for contract
manufacturing services, Dutch-Indonesian company PT Cosmar says it
is embarking on a second round of expansion to meet customer
demands.
French cosmetic giant L'Oreal has announced that it intends to
extend the Body Shop brand into international markets. The move
follows the £652m take-over of the UK based Body Shop by L'Oreal
back in March 2006.
Japanese beauty manufacturer Shiseido is expanding its research and
development centres, opening up facilities in Europe and Asia in an
effort to better appreciate the needs of its customers there and
expand beyond the US and domestic...
With Avon in the midst of a major restructuring CEO Andrea Jung
says that savings are going to be poured back into the company's
future, with research and development, the internet and advertising
targeted for major investment.
Having received the first license for a foreign-owned company to
resume direct sales of cosmetic products in China, Avon added more
than 33,000 new sales staff to its workforce there last month,
according to data from the Chinese...
Global cosmetics giant Beiersdorf has announced the next step in
its restructuring plan with plans to sell off the production and
logistics facilities for its France-based affiliate.
French luxury consumer group LVMH has reported double growth in its
overall sales for the first six months of the year, backed up by an
impressive 80 per cent leap in profits for its perfumes and
cosmetics division.
Following a flurry of activity that saw its shares rocket this
week, Colorado-based personal care provider OraLabs has confirmed
that it is selling up to a Chinese investment company, turning the
company private again.
ASEAN says it is set to implement a single regulatory system for
its ten member states by the start of 2008, in a move that aims to
help bring it in line with regulations worldwide and attract major
international investment.
Although sales are still growing strongly, Estee Lauder has posted
a 27 per cent drop in its net income after being impacted by
restructuring charges. But the company says that it is terrorism
threats that could pose a significant...
Swedish direct sales player Orilfame has announced a significant
increase in its quarterly sales and profits to June 30 on the back
of a 41 per cent rise in local currency sales in the CIS and Baltic
region.
Having confirmed its merger with Alliance Unichem at the end of
July, newly named Boots Alliance says it is eyeing further
expansion of its cosmetic lines in retail outlets throughout the
US.
The investment world showed its disappointment in Avon's recently
announced quarterly results with a flurry of market activity that
saw the company's share price fall by more than five dollars.
Sales of premium fragrances continue to be the main driving force
behind a healthy performance for fragrance and flavours player
Givaudan, as the Swiss company confirms it will be keeping its eye
on opportunities to further consolidate...
Unilever announces second quarter results showing that it has
maintained its steady growth of late, but the questions remains
whether it is enough to remain competitive against major rival
Procter & Gamble.
Johnson & Johnson is said to be in advanced talks to buy up
Beijing-based Dabao Cosmetics - a move that could give the company
a valuable footing in what is currently a huge growth market.
Avon Products has announced a significant drop in its profits as
restructuring charges hit the bottom line and the company's
performance in most markets, including the US, came in below
expectations.