The Body Shop says that widespread criticism of its merger with
French cosmetics giant L'Oreal has failed to have an impact on the
stronger performance the company has experienced throughout the
financial year.
Continuing the decline in sales experienced during 2005, Inter
Parfums has reported a dip in its dollar sales for the first
quarter of 2006 as the company struggles to improve its ground in a
hugely competitive market.
After another flat quarter French luxury goods group PPR says it is
to pursue plans to restructure its YSL Beauté division in an effort
to improve efficiency and make the business more competitive.
Avon has reported a 67 per cent drop in its first quarter net
income as restructuring charges aimed at reinvigorating sales hit
the company's bottom line.
Leading Japanese and global cosmetics player Shiseido has pulled
back into profit following improved sales and reduced labour costs,
but it is predicting that sales growth will slip in the coming year
as a result of competition.
Colgate-Palmolive has successfully implemented increased pricing
and a greater emphasis on higher margin goods to help boost its
first quarter results despite the challenge of facing stiff
restructuring costs.
After 18 years at the helm of the world's leading cosmetics
company, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones has stepped down in favour of
Frenchman Jean-Paul Agon. The question on everyone's lips now is
can Agon measure up to the standards...
Avon has confirmed that it will fire 1,300 staff by the end of this
year as part of the comprehensive restructuring program it
announced in November last year.
Luxury cosmetics and fragrances are continuing to provide some of
the biggest sales growth in the industry, as the latest quarterly
results from France-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton reveal.
Sweden-based direct sales player Oriflame says it will continue to
focus its plans for sustained growth on Eastern Europe and
Mediterranean regions, following the publication of its 2005
financial report.
Beauty-conscious British women spend a whopping £3,000 (€4,300) a
year on beauty products and treatments, with 81 per cent of women
wearing make-up every day, says a survey commissioned by New Woman
magazine.
UK retailer Marks and Spencer has streamlined its colour cosmetics
business by switching to a single supplier, pulling a contract from
Swallowfield worth a reported £2m (€2.9m).
Elizabeth Arden is to team up with singer Mariah Carey for the
launch of a new line of fragrances. The announcement comes just a
few weeks after the company's shares fell on the back of rising
competition in the celebrity fragrance...
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has been accused of artificially
inflating its share prices in a lawsuit filed by shareholders who
claim they were tricked into investing in the struggling company.
Irish cosmetics and personal care company IWP International has
announced a restructuring that aims to return the company to
profitability after two years in the red.
After more than two years of searching for its first move into the
cosmetics business, UK-based Reflexion Cosmetics says it is in
talks for a potential reverse take over.
Shares in leading US cosmetics company Elizabeth Arden fell last
week after a number of leading financial analysts downgraded their
rating, citing rising competition in the celebrity fragrance market
and a weak start to its new anti-aging...
More than one month ahead of the scheduled publishing of its
half-yearly results, hair care specialist Alberto-Culver says it is
on course to deliver record results.
The fact that L'Oreal's acquisition of The Body Shop will provide
plenty of potential growth opportunities is undisputed, but the
question of how well the acquisition sits in the portfolio of the
world's largest cosmetics...
As Avon continues to make major cut backs, analysts and market
experts are being won over as the company's position starts to look
stronger following a difficult two year period.
BASF's hostile takeover bid for leading personal care supplier
Engelhard is looking more likely after it was acknowledged that the
Germany-based chemicals giant has been allowed to look at sections
of Engelhard's accounts.
The world's largest cosmetic company, L'Oreal, will acquire The
Body Shop - a move that will see it break into new ground as the
brand-owner of a business revered for its ethical values.
A record financial year for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is
supported by a strong performance from the company's cosmetics and
fragrance operations, boosted by the Dior brand as well as an
increasing market share for its...
The ever-competitive personal care industry sees yet another law
suit this month. This time Pfizer, maker of Listerine mouthwash is
suing Procter & Gamble over advertising claims made about a
rival product.
German cosmetic and toiletries giant Beiersdorf says it will be
realigning its Dutch and Swedish facilities as part of the second
stage of restructuring plans that aim to save €100m a year in
production costs.
Revlon has reported a strong fourth quarter, with profits up an
impressive 38 per cent following strong sales of its Vital Radiance
line and a successful repositioning of its Almay brand.
Leading cosmetics and toiletries contract player Creative
Outsourcing Solutions International (Cosi) has secured an
investment restructuring plan that will help the company in its
ambitions to become one of the leading contract players...
L'Oreal says it is considering making a cash offer for British
cosmetics and toiletries retailer Body Shop, as it aims to broaden
its existing business portfolio in an effort to maintain its
unbroken sales growth record.
Brazilian direct sales cosmetics player Natura is benefiting from a
booming domestic economy and renewed vigor for all things cosmetic,
having announced a big increase in its end of year sales and
profits.
German consumer goods group Henkel is aiming to strengthen its
cosmetic and toiletries operations with the purchase of Gillette's
Right Guard deodorant business in the US, a deal that forms part of
requirements to comply with...
L'Oreal has declared that it is not adverse to making further
acquisitions in the future in an effort to maintain sales growth at
6 - 8 per cent, while confirming a 50 per cent drop in its annual
profits following merger gains...
German cosmetics giant and marketer of the Nivea brand, Beiersdorf,
says it is poised to grow organically, with the Asian and men's
personal care market likely areas for investment.
After months of speculation the UK's leading retailer has announced
it plans to enter the United States retail market through the
convenience sector, where its cosmetics and toiletries offerings
could give the edge on the competition.
Oriflame says that euro currency sales growth of 24 per cent in its
fourth quarter, ending in December - a strong end to a year marked
by restructuring and a major push into developing markets.
Unilever sales grew by just 2 per cent in 2005, putting them in the
shadows as arch rival P&G takes the number one consumer goods
spot following last year's purchase of Gillette.
Direct sales giant Avon has reported a 36.7 per cent drop in its Q4
income as it tackles fierce competition and rising costs. The
disappointing results coincide with the decision to pull out of the
Indonesia market, which also knocked...
Mercatura Cosmetics has struck up a joint venture with Amrit
Medical to construct a cosmetics manufacturing facility in Syria
that will supply the fast-growing Middle Eastern market.
After a run of strong results from international personal care
players, Kimberly-Clark's latest results show it is struggling as
it is faces restructuring charges, passing costs on to consumers in
the US and Europe.
The first full quarter financial results following the merger with
Gillette spell a big success for P&G. Results were well ahead
of expectations after the world's largest consumer goods company
more than tripled revenue growth,...
German personal care giant Beiersdorf says it wants to achieve a
5.5 per cent of the global market for personal care products by the
year 2010 and will be particularly looking to the markets of China,
India, Brazil and Russia to help...
Reflexion Cosmetics, which was originally set up to capitalise on
opportunities in the UK cosmetics and toiletries sector, has
confirmed that it is still looking for suitable acquisitions having
first listed on the London Stock Exchange...
Global giant L'Oreal says that growth in the Western European
market, combined with strong levels of activity in North America
and new markets has helped to give a big boost to its fourth
quarter results, pushing the full year...
Leading salon hair care provider Regis says it has agreed to merge
with Alberto-Culver's ailing Sally Beauty business - a move that is
estimated to transform Regis into a $4.5 billion global
professional beauty company.
Parlux Fragrances seems to be continuing its phenomenal run of
growth, having announced that it is anticipating a 95 per cent rise
in its Q3 sales turnover and a doubling of its earnings.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management has taken a 1.75 per cent
stake in Kalina, following a period of growth and acquisitions for
the Russian cosmetics giant.
Despite tough market conditions, particularly in the all-important
German market, Beiersdorf says its preliminary year-end results
indicate sales growth of 5.1 per cent, while profit after tax rose
by 7 per cent.
Rio Tinto, a leading Anglo-Australian mineral producer, has
announced that it will consolidate three of its subsidiaries,
including talc producer Luzenac, with two other subsidiaries to
form Rio Tinto Minerals.
Following its acquisition of Kanebo's cosmetics division, Kao is
facing up to a new era of debt, as analysts down-grade the
company's squeaky clean credit rating.
In Japan the long drawn-out bidding war for the cosmetics arm of
consumer giant Kanebo has come to an end after Kao sealed a deal
totalling ¥410 billion (€2.93bn), taking it a notch or two up in
the global cosmetic stakes.
