The Paris-based company is working with a consortium of mainly French private investors, including Act, Novaris, Sibessor and Investessor, to provide extra capital which will be used to increase the company’s brand portfolio and its distribution network.
The company says it wants to build on extensive market growth that reached over 40 percent during the 2008 financial year. Specific sales figures will be made available for the period July 2008 to June 2009 later this year.
Growth despite tough economic backdrop
Cosmetic Lab Gercal was started up in 2007, so although the increase in sales is from a very small base, the company says that it is the fact that it has managed to grow during tough financial conditions that has prompted the expansion.
The investment will lead to a series of new products which are expected to be launched later on this year, although the company says that the nature of the products is to be kept a secret until the launch.
As well as further developing its distribution in the domestic market, it will be aiming to expand its presence in all the major European markets, as well as targeting the Middle East.
Tapping into plant extracts and aromatherapy
Founded by Marie Claude Soustre, a leading pharmacist, and her husband Gerard Soustre, the product range has been developed around the principles of aromatherapy and herbalism – a concept known as phytotherapie in France.
The resulting product portfolio is split into make-up removal, anti-ageing, moisturising and skin revitalising products, all of which have been formulated using plant-derived actives and essential oils, and produced under the Phyl’ Activ brand.
Active plant extracts and essentials oils used in the formulations include crocus sativus, which safran is derived from, together with blue lotus, an aquatic flower from Egypt.
Extracts of these two plants have been developed by the company using biotechnology to tap into a potent active ingredient called Renewal Crocus Lotus Bleu, which the company says is of significant benefit to skin health.
The product range is marketed on the strength of its natural formulation, highlighting the fact that they do not use harsh ingredients such as phtalates, parabens or colorants.