Business & Financial

Dive deeper on Kao joining Genomatica venture to scale palm oil alternatives

03-Oct-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

Biotechnology firm Genomatica announced last week that Japanese giant Kao Corporation is joining a venture to scale alternatives to palm oil.

Key targets: India’s Aminu targets UAE and Saudi Arabia in Middle East expansion

28-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

India-based skin care brand Aminu’s Middle East expansion will focus on United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as its two key markets.

‘Strong, inclusive and fearless’: Estée Lauder enters tie-up with Balmain for 2024 prestige beauty launch

27-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major The Estée Lauder Companies and French luxury fashion house Balmain have entered into a license agreement to collaboratively develop and launch an inclusive prestige beauty line next year.

Dive deeper on L’Oréal acquisition of physician-dispensed brand Skinbetter Science

26-Sep-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

L’Oréal announced the acquisition of physician-dispensed brand Skinbetter Science, which will become part of the multinational’s Active Cosmetics Division.

‘Focus is on Asia’: Swiss brand Evenswiss says its future ‘growth story’ lies in region

22-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Swiss skin care brand Evenswiss says Asia will be key to its future growth after enjoying initial success in Vietnam and China.

The business of Instagram: Creativity and community key to growth - execs

19-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty businesses must focus on pushing creativity and building communities on Instagram to spur engagement and drive growth, according to executives of the platform.

‘New audiences’: Puig acquires majority stake in Indian wellness brand Kama Ayurveda

15-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Spanish luxury beauty and perfume major Puig has announced the acquisition of Kama Ayurveda – a move set to strengthen its Indian footprint and drive presence in the Western wellbeing market, an expert says.

Beauty industry ‘deeply saddened’ by death of Queen Elizabeth II

09-Sep-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Beauty brands and associations have expressed widespread sympathies following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, paying tributes to her decades of public service.

UpCircle seals €480,000 crowdfunding: We’re a ‘disruptor brand’ showing how upcycling in beauty can scale, says co-founder

07-Sep-2022 By Shane Starling

British circular beauty brand UpCircle recently raised close to half a million euros in crowdfunding that it will use for US production expansion, global product development and pushing ahead with its wider mission to make green and natural cosmetics...

‘Road to recovery’: Kosé Corp aims to tap into make-up recovery with high-prestige brands

06-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics company Kosé Corporation intends to strengthen its line-up of make-up in the high-prestige beauty segment to capitalise on the post-pandemic make-up recovery.

‘Baby steps’: Nykaa set to take brand portfolio overseas to Mauritius, UAE, US

02-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Indian cosmetics e-commerce company Nykaa is making “baby steps” onto the international stage by pushing its portfolio of beauty brands into markets including Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, US.

Superdrug expands premium to give ‘beauty choices for every budget’

01-Sep-2022 By Shane Starling

The UK’s second-biggest health and beauty retailer Superdrug is defying the cost-of-living crisis and upping its game in premium beauty brands as it broadens its offer beyond its lower price point core.

Dazzling debut: L’Oréal touts Hainan as the ‘perfect venue’ to introduce J-beauty brand Takami

29-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Hainan Island’s reputation as the “go-to beauty destination” makes it the ideal place to introduce Takami, the newest “jewel” in L’Oréal’s high-end skin care portfolio, claims the firm.

Walgreens Boots Alliance expands UK Deliveroo tie-up

24-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Retail major Walgreens Boots Alliance is expanding its partnership with app-based delivery firm Deliveroo in the UK following a successful pilot scheme last year.

Spotlight Oral Care continues expansion: ‘We like to be the bridge between oral health and beauty’

23-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Irish indie brand Spotlight Oral Care is continuing to expand across Europe and the US and wants to focus future new product development on bridging the oral health and beauty gap.

The Good Face Project raises $5.65 million for platform to streamline demand on R&D

23-Aug-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

With a new multimillion-dollar investment, startup The Good Face Project is hoping to change how cosmetics companies go about R&D.

La Prairie China expansion: Luxury brand to open 10 more doors by end of 2022

23-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

German personal care major Beiersdorf has plans to expand La Prairie’s offline presence in China with 10 more touchpoints as the brand rebounds strongly in the pandemic-plagued market.

A hairy situation: Kao CEO highlights need for ‘dramatic’ change to invigorate hair care business

23-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

The CEO of Japanese consumer goods company Kao Corporation has underlined the immediate need to revitalise its declining hair care business amid stiff competition in the mass market sector.

Zero-waste brand Solidu eyes expansion: ‘We still have a lot of unexplored fields'

19-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Indie brand Solidu wants to deepen its retail presence across Europe and the US, but also innovate further into solid face care – a space its founder says still holds plenty of promise.

China reopening: Recovery of consumer sentiment ‘will take some time’ – A.S. Watson MD

17-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Retailer A.S. Watson has cautioned that consumer sentiment in China will take time to fully recover, despite an uptick in footfall following a turbulent few months due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Going on the offensive: Shiseido to invest over $75m in brand equity and employee training

15-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese beauty major Shiseido is planning to invest JPY10bn (USD75.5m) in both brand equity and its employees as part of plans to go on the offensive and buck the declining trend of the market.

‘Galvanise’ business: British Beauty Week to celebrate ‘power of beauty’ post-COVID

11-Aug-2022 By Shane Starling

The British beauty sector will parade its status as an economic powerhouse and potent transformer of lives at next month’s British Beauty Week, as the industry and world slowly moves past the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all.

Staying put: L’Oréal confirms that Maybelline will continue to have offline presence in China - CEO

10-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

French beauty giant L’Oréal will not be stamping out Maybelline’s physical presence in China and migrating online completely, despite the strength of e-commerce and plans to close 14 standalone stores, its CEO has confirmed.

Beiersdorf net profit soars 25%: We’ve had a ‘fantastic season’ in sun care, says CEO

09-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

International skin care major Beiersdorf has reported a net profit surge for the first half (H1) of 2022, with its flagship Nivea brand performing especially well worldwide and great successes reported in sun care and Latin America for the broader business.

Continuing to ‘inspire’ the world: French cosmetic exports to hit €20bn in 2022

09-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

French beauty exports will continue to surge in 2022, with China and the US set to remain important business markets for makeup and perfumes in particular, according to the French Federation for Beauty Companies (FEBEA).

Cost inflation and currency challenges: Personal care CEOs brace for ‘significant’ headwinds in H2 2022

08-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Leaders at Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive are predicting a tough six months ahead, with cost inflation anticipated to peak and foreign exchange challenges to continue.

Colgate-Palmolive H1 2022 net sales up despite profit dip: 'We will watch the consumer really closely,' says CEO

04-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care giant Colgate-Palmolive has reported a net sales rise for the first half (H1) of 2022, with business especially strong in Latin America despite ongoing headwinds worldwide.

P&G FY2022 net profit up: ‘Still, we’re very clear-eyed about the trials ahead,’ says CEO

03-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has reported a net profit rise for the full fiscal year 2022, though beauty and grooming dipped in the fourth quarter and challenges remain ahead, according to its CEO.

IN-DEPTH ON KANTAR'S 2022 BRAND FOOTPRINT

Top beauty and personal care brands 2022? Colgate, Lifebuoy, Dove and Sunsilk ‘most chosen’

03-Aug-2022 By Lynda Searby

Colgate, Lifebuoy, Dove and Sunsilk are the most chosen beauty and personal care brands in the world, but L’Oréal Paris is the ‘biggest online adopter’, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s 2022 Brand Footprint.

L’Oréal H1 2022 net profit surges 25%: We have performed ‘remarkably well’, says CEO

02-Aug-2022 By Kacey Culliney

International beauty major L’Oréal has reported strong sales growth for the first half (H1) of 2022, with much of business returning to or exceeding pre-pandemic levels and net profit surging.

L’Occitane Q1: Double-digit decline in China hinders group’s APAC performance

02-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-listed L’Occitane’s business in China dropped by double digits due to COVID-19 troubles, hindering the performance of the Asia Pacific region in the three months ending June 30.

J&J H1 sales up despite ‘headwinds’ impacting beauty and skin health

28-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Personal care major Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has reported a rise in first half (H1) sales for 2022 despite a dip in pre-adjusted profits and consumer health sales hit by COVID-19, input costs and supply issues.

CEO Q&A

“It's going to be a really difficult five years”: An expert take on the future of beauty financing

27-Jul-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

As economies around the world are struggling, a finance expert believes cosmetics companies will have a harder time securing funds.

Unilever CEO: ‘Peak cost inflation’ set to hit in second half of 2022

27-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

Consumer goods major Unilever has reported net sales growth for the first half (H1) of 2022, despite continued high inflation and slower global growth that will continue well into the second half of the year, according to its CEO.

‘The next frontier’: The Good Glamm Group’s international venture targets Middle East, SEA

26-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

India-based cosmetics conglomerate The Good Glamm Group is set to make its first foray internationally into the Middle East in August, and has plans to tackle the South East Asian market next year.

UK D2C brand Facetheory makes first foray into retail via Galeries Lafayette

20-Jul-2022 By Kacey Culliney

British direct-to-consumer skin care brand Facetheory has launched into the new wellness section of French department store Galeries Lafayette, its first move into brick and mortar and part of a wider shift in expansion strategy, its founder says.

New high-tech lab will meet demand for active ingredients in personal care

20-Jul-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

French biotech, SILAB, has opened a new high-tech research facility to “meet high market demand” for natural active ingredients in beauty and personal care markets.

Maximising markets: India’s Minimalist outlines ambitious plans to enter US, Middle East and SEA

20-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

India-based beauty brand Minimalist is eyeing opportunities in new markets including the US, the UK, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

Speaker Spotlights: Growth Asia Summit 2022

H&H Group to reveal latest market trends and scientific developments in microbiome nutrition – Growth Asia Summit

19-Jul-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Two senior leaders from probiotics heavyweights H&H Group, the owner of Swisse and Biostime among others, will be revealing the latest market trends and scientific developments in microbiome nutrition at our forthcoming Growth Asia Summit in Singapore.

Replicating online success: Sa Sa targeting Malaysia, Australia, Europe, N. America with online revamp

14-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-based beauty retailer Sa Sa International is eyeing opportunities in Malaysia, Australia, Europe, and North America with a revamped international online store.

Golden opportunity: Indian beauty firm Pilgrim targets Middle East, offline retail market by end of next year

13-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Mumbai-based online beauty firm Pilgrim plans to execute a two-pronged expansion strategy by tapping the Middle East markets and setting up an offline presence by Q4 2023.

Grooming growth: India’s Singh Styled aims for West, ME expansion to serve 30m Sikh men

11-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

India’s personal care brand Singh Styled, which features a myriad of products such as beard nourishers, serums and shampoos, aims to enter the UK, US and Middle East markets as part of its expansion plans to serve 30 million Sikh men worldwide.

All in good time: Caudalie prioritising APAC expansion plans in India and Vietnam

11-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

French clean beauty brand Caudalie is gearing up to expand its presence in Asia with new entries into India and Vietnam on the back of what it belives is growing demand for effective and clean skin care.

Sequential awarded almost €500k to fund skin microbiome R&D

06-Jul-2022 By Will Chu

Sequential Skin has been awarded close to half a million euros as part of the Innovate UK SMART Grant to fund an initiative that advances understanding of the skin microbiome.

Symrise and evoxx confirm cosmetic ingredient partnership

05-Jul-2022 By Will Chu

Symrise Cosmetic Ingredients are to team up with evoxx technologies in a partnership intent on focusing on creating sustainable cosmetic ingredients.

APAC’s the way: China the growth driver as APAC delivers three of top five markets for L’Occitane

04-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

L’Occitane International saw China emerge as its top driver for sales in FY2022, charting a net sales growth of EUR327.9m (U$347.3m), alongside other significant APAC markets Japan and Hong Kong.

How brands can use creative commerce to generate DTC engagement

30-Jun-2022 By Ravyn Cullor

As tracking consumer movements online is becoming more challenging, creative commerce could be the secret to customer engagement.

EXCLUSIVE IN-DEPTH INSIGHTS

How to win over… beauty consumers in the shifting post-pandemic brick-and-mortar landscape

29-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Major brands including Sephora, Lush Cosmetics, Health & Glow and SUGAR Cosmetics have exclusively shared their insights on how they are redefining the in-store consumer experience in the wake of the COVID-pandemic.

Ingestible beauty takeover: upcoming webinar

28-Jun-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Post-Covid, consumers are increasingly engaging in beauty routines involving the use of cosmeceuticals. In a webinar slated for July 21, NutraIngredients-USA and CosmeticsDesign will dig into science, innovations, ingredients as well as product design...