Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

Croda finishes 2009 in a stronger position

23-Feb-2010 - Croda’s fourth quarter results confirmed that the company is on the road to recovery after a rocky first six months.

Cosmetics packaging success relies on US consumer confidence: Rexam

19-Feb-2010 - Packaging supplier Rexam has said that success in the coming year for its personal care division will rely very much on consumer confidence and discretionary spend in the US.

L’Oreal unveils three-pronged strategy for future growth

19-Feb-2010 - Putting a tough year behind it, the world’s biggest cosmetic company is focusing on three key strategies that aim to transform the business and ensure it remains on top.

L’Oreal to concentrate on new markets in 2010

18-Feb-2010 - Having been hard hit by the economic downturn in 2009 L’Oreal says new markets will help to counteract limited growth opportunities in developed markets.

Firmenich shores up presence in Dubai

17-Feb-2010 - Firmenich has announced the opening of a new affiliate in Dubai, in a bid to deepen its understanding of Middle Eastern consumers’ flavour and fragrance preferences.

Clariant hard hit by global market conditions in 2009

17-Feb-2010 - Swiss chemicals player Clariant has reported a significant recovery for its Q4 after a tough year, but demand from personal care players remains steady.

L’Oreal continues to struggle following weak Q4

16-Feb-2010 - L’Oreal’s financial performance continues to look unsteady for its fourth quarter, bringing an end to a disappointing year.

Developing markets drove Givaudan ‘09 sales

16-Feb-2010 - Latin America and Asia led the way with strong sales for Givaudan’s flavour division in 2009, prodding it towards 1.9 per cent sales growth in local currencies in a tough year for industry.

Personal care players fined €8m over price fixing

16-Feb-2010 - Spain’s National Competition Commission (CNC), has fined personal care players Sara Lee, Puig and Colgate-Palmolive a total of €8m over price fixing.

Investors to target natural personal care companies in 2010

15-Feb-2010 - Natural personal care companies are expected to be a key target for investors in 2010, according to Organic Monitor’s latest Strategic Insights report.

Univar to acquire chemical distributor Quaron

12-Feb-2010 - US-headquartered Univar, a worldwide provider of specialty chemicals, has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire fellow chemical distributor, the Quaron Group.

News in brief

New chief legal officer and group secretary for Unilever

12-Feb-2010 - Consumer products company, Unilever, has nominated Tonia Lovell as its next chief legal officer and group secretary.

Investment in former L’Oreal factory set to create 200 jobs

11-Feb-2010 - The Welsh Assembly Government is supporting an investment of £7m (€7.94m) in a personal care factory, which is expected to create 200 jobs in South Wales.

Currency translations hit Oriflame’s fourth quarter

11-Feb-2010 - Swedish direct sales company Oriflame has announced a 14 per cent increase in its fourth quarter local currency sales, but negative currency translations take the shine off.

Pharma revs up, but cosmetics sales down for Gerresheimer in 09

11-Feb-2010 - Gerresheimer expects pharmaceutical packaging sales to grow but says performance of “cyclical” cosmetics and life science businesses is more difficult to predict.

Prestige market shows clear signs of recovery

10-Feb-2010 - The economic crisis meant that 2009 was a struggle for prestige cosmetic players, but financial results show that in the last quarter of the year things started to improve.

News in brief

CPL Aromas appoints German-based perfumer

10-Feb-2010 - International fragrance house, CPL Aromas has appointed Claudine De Vogel to the position of perfumer.

Marionnaud ordered to compensate shareholders

10-Feb-2010 - French cosmetics and perfume retailer Marionnaud has been ordered to compensate 124 of its minority shareholders for falsifying company accounts between 2002-2004.

Beauty lets IFF fourth quarter and full year results down

09-Feb-2010 - IFF group results show upward trend for the fourth quarter, but sales of beauty-related fragrances remain slack.

Full-year sales and profit fall at LVMH despite strong fourth quarter

09-Feb-2010 - Despite a strong fourth quarter and increased sales in Asia, 2009 saw an overall drop in revenue and profit at luxury goods company LVMH.

Sanofi-Aventis completes acquisition of Chattem

09-Feb-2010 - Sanofi-Aventis has confirmed that its acquisition of US-based specialist skin care provider Chattem has been finalised by US regulatory authorities.

Personal Care boosts Unilever's Q4, but profits still tumble

05-Feb-2010 - Personal care helped buoy an otherwise shaky performance from Unilever as the company was hit by falling group sales in its mainstay European market.

Clarins purchases organic brand Kibio

05-Feb-2010 - Clarins has bought the remaining share of the organic brand Kibio in which it has heavily invested since 2006.

Lonza 2009 results hit by global economic downturn

04-Feb-2010 - Swiss ingredients supplier Lonza reported a significant drop in its sales during 2009, as all of its business divisions were hard hit by lower demand worldwide.