Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble expects to return to organic sales growth by the end of the year after reporting two quarters of organic sales declines.
Despite cries of the ‘lipstick effect’, the cosmetics and personal care industry has not been protected from the economic downturn and some analysts argue recent alterations to the market and changes in consumer behaviour might be here to stay.
Hopes of a recovery in consumer spending linked to the election of the Democratic Party of Japan has led analysts to up the outlook for Japanese firm Shiseido’s domestic sales.
L’Oreal has announced a 14 per cent drop in its first half profits as a gradual rise in sales helps get the global cosmetics player back on track, beating market forecasts.
Kose, one of Japan’s biggest cosmetic and personal care providers, says it will start to focus on developing international markets to counterbalance weaker developed markets.
France-based Louise Enterprises has secured further credit of €3 million to help expand its perfume on a stick concept in both the domestic and international markets.
A recent spate of lawsuits aimed at protecting some of the biggest personal care brand names in the business is likely to spell more work for legal representatives.
Elizabeth Arden says that lower charges attributable to it restructuring drive helped to narrow fourth quarter losses, although the outlook continues to be weak.
Direct sales player Oriflame has announced a big increase in local sales for its second quarter, but the negative impact of currency exchange hits profits.
Parlux registered a small increase in sales on big gains in the US market, but international sales continue to fall, and the company remains in the red.
US district judges have ruled that relatives of the Gucci family can no longer market products using a similar trademark to that used by the Gucci business.
The perfume and cosmetics division of luxury goods player Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton (LVMH) suffered sales losses in the first half of 2009 but stood up better than its wines and spirits segment.
Although the company’s adhesives business has been battered by the recession, Q2 sales for its personal care operations were buoyed by developing markets
Fragrance and flavour supplier Givaudan blames a drop in sales on destocking and lower consumer demand, although it said second quarter results show a slight recovery.
A strong performance from the company’s consumer care division helped the specialty chemicals player battle through tough conditions in its first six months.
Sales for the beauty segment of the direct seller Tupperware dropped in the second quarter, although emerging regions stood up better than developed markets.
Color cosmetics company Bare Escentuals is being accused of artificially inflating the company’s share prices by providing misleading information to the public.
Brazilian cosmetics player Natura said that its recently announced share offering is likely to raise in excess of $800m as Brazilian and US investors clamor for shares.
A leading analyst has released a note to investors suggesting that Procter & Gamble may be scouting around for a major acquisition in an attempt to boost sales.
Gerresheimer has cut its forecast for 2009 after a poor second quarter that saw gains made in drug packaging pegged back by falling demand from the cosmetics industry.
Mumbai-based Galaxy Surfactants has purchased a majority stake in US-based ingredients supplier Tri-K in order to expand on its personal care portfolio and consolidate its global presence.
Specialty soaps and skin care provider Crabtree & Evelyn has filed for bankruptcy in the US, becoming the latest personal care player to fall victim to the economic crisis.