Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

P&G acts with ‘urgency’ to return to organic sales growth

10-Sep-2009 - 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.

Fragrance and flavour supplier IFF plans European plant closures

10-Sep-2009 - International Flavors and Fragrances has begun talks that could result in the loss of over one hundred and fifty jobs in Europe.

Trading down boosts sales for UK contract manufacturer

10-Sep-2009 - Annual performance at private label products supplier McBride has benefited from the growing popularity of cheaper own-brand products.

Tax breaks available for cosmetic manufacturers in China

09-Sep-2009 - Cosmetics manufacturers in China stand to benefit from tax breaks as the government attempts to boost the industry during the economic crisis.

Merck acquires effects pigments manufacturer in China

09-Sep-2009 - Leading pigments supplier Merck has acquired Suzhou Taizhu Technology Development, a supplier of pigments based in the Shanghai area of China.

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Economic crisis redefines the cosmetics industry

08-Sep-2009 - 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.

News in brief

Inter Parfums hits acquisition trail

08-Sep-2009 - Inter Parfums is looking to conclude an acquisition deal in 2010 and puts slow progress down to complex negotiations, not financing problems.

Sales for beauty retailer Ulta boosted by new stores

07-Sep-2009 - Fragrance and cosmetic retailer Ulta has reported sales growth for its second quarter but much of the increase is down to new stores.

Recovery in Japanese market could boost Shiseido’s performance

03-Sep-2009 - 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.

Cognis appoints new CFO to succeed Edelmann

01-Sep-2009 - Germany-based ingredients provider Cognis has appointed Marco Panichi as its new chief financial officer, replacing outgoing Klaus Edelmann.

Cost savings help Cognis counteract fall in sales

28-Aug-2009 - Cost initiatives help counteract flagging sales over the past six months for the personal care ingredient giant Cognis.

L’Oreal’s dip in net profits is less than expected

28-Aug-2009 - 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.

Men’s grooming fails to live up to expectations

27-Aug-2009 - The global economic downturn appears to have hit the men’s grooming segment hard, as some of the biggest players witness lower sales in the category.

Kose aims at international markets to exit downturn

26-Aug-2009 - 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.

News in brief

Manufacturer of Pür Minerals cosmetics gets new CEO

26-Aug-2009 - Astral Brands, which manufactures Alloette, CosMedix and Pür Minerals, has appointed a new CEO to push the company’s growth plans.

Perfume on a stick maker aims for further expansion

20-Aug-2009 - 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.

Symrise guarantees German jobs but workers will have to accept less

19-Aug-2009 - Symrise will not be making any cuts to its German workforce for the next five years having signed an agreement with the industrial union.

Weekly comment

Brand protection means tougher work for lawyers

17-Aug-2009 - 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.

Benefits of restructuring boost Elizabeth Arden results

14-Aug-2009 - Elizabeth Arden says that lower charges attributable to it restructuring drive helped to narrow fourth quarter losses, although the outlook continues to be weak.

Estee Lauder posts big Q4 loss on restructuring charges

13-Aug-2009 - Estee Lauder posts a big fourth quarter loss after it experiences the double whammy of stiff restructuring charges and a big drop in sales.

Oriflame sales up but costs and currency exchange hits profits

12-Aug-2009 - 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.

News in brief

SpongeTech expands health and beauty line with acquisition

11-Aug-2009 - Sponge specialist SpongeTech has acquired Dicon Technologies allowing it to offer cosmetics sponges as parts of its health and beauty portfolio.

Inter Parfums Q2 profits up on foreign currency gains

11-Aug-2009 - Despite falling sales fragrance player Inter Parfums posts a big increase in profits, having hedged its earnings using forward exchange contracts

Parlux sales up on gains in US market

10-Aug-2009 - 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.