- Email: [email protected]
Unilever cuts 175 jobs in HPC, sells four brands
FOCUS that have introduced such products. Amidst the product launches, outside forces such as heavy promotions and the resurgence of dollar stores are prompting marketers to reduce prices. However, data from ACNeilsen Strategic Planner revealed that sales of household cleaning products in food, drug and mass merchandisers dropped 4.3% to $1.95 bn for the year ended 4 Oct 2003.
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
particularly Russia and China. According to P&G, the growth will be supported by the acquisition of the hair care products company Wella (Germany) and by the weak exchange-rate of the $. P&G 2004 expected growth, 10 Dec 2003 (The Procter & Gamble Co, 1 or 2, Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45201, USA, Tel: +1 513 983 1100, Website: http://www.pg.com) & Hospodarske Noviny, 12 Dec 2003, 47 (242), 14 (in Czech)
HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Dec 2003, 40 (12), 95-96
COMPANY RESULTS Henkel begins to benefit from restructuring Henkel is beginning to show the benefit from restructuring with 3Q 2003 turnover decreasing only 0.1% to €2.371 bn. Allowing for the effects of the stronger euro, sales would have increased by 3.8% during 3Q 2003. Operating profit increased 7.4% to €172 M and net profit increased 11.3% to €118 M during 3Q 2003. Henkel’s cosmetics and personal care products division recorded operating profit increased 11.7% to €44 M during 3Q 2003. The washing powders division recorded 0.4% increased operating profit of €71 M for 3Q 2003. Henkel’s restructuring programme has resulted in nearly 2500 redundancies over 2001 to 2003. Forecasts for 2004 suggest that turnover could increase by about 4%. Chimie Hebdo, 24 Nov 2003, (235), 8-9 (in French)
Procter & Gamble expects proceeds to grow 14-18% Procter & Gamble (P&G) said that it remains committed to its objective of delivering 4 to 6% top-line growth and double-digit earnings/share growth each year. It expects its proceeds to grow by 14-18% year-on-year in the financial quarter ending in Dec 2003. For the quarter, organic volume growth is expected to be in the 7 to 8% range versus a strong base period of 7% organic volume growth. The volume growth continues to be led by fabric and home care, health care and developing markets, FEBRUARY 2004
COMPANY NEWS National Starch’s encapsulation deal National Starch & Chemical is to acquire exclusive rights to encapsulation and delivery systems for household products and fabric care markets from Salvona. Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Green Dolphin expands distribution Green Dolphin Systems Corp in keeping with its aggressive corporate growth strategy has expanded its distribution base for Green Dolphin’s line of eco-friendly laundry additive products from five Distributors in 1Q 2003 to eleven Distributors in 3Q 2003. Geographically they encompass the cities of Chicago, Syracuse, St Louis, Atlanta, Baltimore and Dallas. Press release from: Green Dolphin Systems Corp, PO Box 1420, Powell, TN 37849, USA, Tel: +1 888 379 8693, Fax: +1 865 947 3966, Website: http://www.greendolphin.net (1 Dec 2003)
Bayer outsources some sales Kruse Chemie of Balve, Germany, is to take over the sales activities in Germany of Bayer Chemicals’ Baypure cleaning agents, cosmetics and detergents product lines. Baypure products are water softeners. Kruse had sales of around €290 M in 2002. It has 8 logistics centres in Germany with a good distribution network. Chemical sales exceeded the 2 M tonnes mark for the first time in 2002. Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Unilever cuts 175 jobs in HPC, sells four brands Unilever is to lay off around 175 workers in its Home and Personal Care (HPC) division in the US. The cuts will begin in Feb 2004. In 2Q 2004 Unilever will also bring together two plants on a single site. The company has also sold four cleaning product brands to Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Group. In 1-3Q 2003 the four brands generated a turnover of $107 M, mainly in the US and Canada. The products are: Final Touch fabric softeners, Niagara ironing products, Sunlight dishwashing detergent and Rit fabric dyes. Het Financieele Dagblad, 11 Dec 2003 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) & 9 Dec 2003, (290), 13 (in Dutch)
Bradford Soap acquires Hewitt Soap Bradford Soap Works has acquired its chief US competitor Hewitt Soap Company Inc, a subsidiary of American Safety Razor Company. The transaction is said to strengthen Bradford’s position as the largest speciality bar soap producer in the US. There are no plans to close any facilities at the moment. Two facilities will be used to specialize in contract business for commodity products such as soap noodles and specialty chemicals; another will be used to produce specialized products that keep pace with market trends. The plant in Chester, UK, will continue to supply the company’s European customers. Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Dec 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Nova BioGenetics sub-registers Anabec mould product Nova BioGenetics has sub-registered products from Anabec Inc and two other companies with the US EPA. Anabec’s product removes stronger categories of mould and bacteria from porous building materials that harbour these strains. Materials can actually be cleaned and sealed with Anabec’s patented dyne penetrating surfactant used with an EPA registered antimicrobial shield. Press release from: Nova BioGenetics Inc, 8383, Dunwoody Place, Building #3, Atlanta, GA 30350, USA. Tel: +1 770 650 6508. Fax: +1 770 650 0411. Website: http://www.novabiogenetics.com (19 Dec 2003)
7
ON
S U R FAC TA N T S
particularly Russia and China. According to P&G, the growth will be supported by the acquisition of the hair care products company Wella (Germany) and by the weak exchange-rate of the $. P&G 2004 expected growth, 10 Dec 2003 (The Procter & Gamble Co, 1 or 2, Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45201, USA, Tel: +1 513 983 1100, Website: http://www.pg.com) & Hospodarske Noviny, 12 Dec 2003, 47 (242), 14 (in Czech)
HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Dec 2003, 40 (12), 95-96
COMPANY RESULTS Henkel begins to benefit from restructuring Henkel is beginning to show the benefit from restructuring with 3Q 2003 turnover decreasing only 0.1% to €2.371 bn. Allowing for the effects of the stronger euro, sales would have increased by 3.8% during 3Q 2003. Operating profit increased 7.4% to €172 M and net profit increased 11.3% to €118 M during 3Q 2003. Henkel’s cosmetics and personal care products division recorded operating profit increased 11.7% to €44 M during 3Q 2003. The washing powders division recorded 0.4% increased operating profit of €71 M for 3Q 2003. Henkel’s restructuring programme has resulted in nearly 2500 redundancies over 2001 to 2003. Forecasts for 2004 suggest that turnover could increase by about 4%. Chimie Hebdo, 24 Nov 2003, (235), 8-9 (in French)
Procter & Gamble expects proceeds to grow 14-18% Procter & Gamble (P&G) said that it remains committed to its objective of delivering 4 to 6% top-line growth and double-digit earnings/share growth each year. It expects its proceeds to grow by 14-18% year-on-year in the financial quarter ending in Dec 2003. For the quarter, organic volume growth is expected to be in the 7 to 8% range versus a strong base period of 7% organic volume growth. The volume growth continues to be led by fabric and home care, health care and developing markets, FEBRUARY 2004
COMPANY NEWS National Starch’s encapsulation deal National Starch & Chemical is to acquire exclusive rights to encapsulation and delivery systems for household products and fabric care markets from Salvona. Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Green Dolphin expands distribution Green Dolphin Systems Corp in keeping with its aggressive corporate growth strategy has expanded its distribution base for Green Dolphin’s line of eco-friendly laundry additive products from five Distributors in 1Q 2003 to eleven Distributors in 3Q 2003. Geographically they encompass the cities of Chicago, Syracuse, St Louis, Atlanta, Baltimore and Dallas. Press release from: Green Dolphin Systems Corp, PO Box 1420, Powell, TN 37849, USA, Tel: +1 888 379 8693, Fax: +1 865 947 3966, Website: http://www.greendolphin.net (1 Dec 2003)
Bayer outsources some sales Kruse Chemie of Balve, Germany, is to take over the sales activities in Germany of Bayer Chemicals’ Baypure cleaning agents, cosmetics and detergents product lines. Baypure products are water softeners. Kruse had sales of around €290 M in 2002. It has 8 logistics centres in Germany with a good distribution network. Chemical sales exceeded the 2 M tonnes mark for the first time in 2002. Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website: http://www.chemicalweek.com)
Unilever cuts 175 jobs in HPC, sells four brands Unilever is to lay off around 175 workers in its Home and Personal Care (HPC) division in the US. The cuts will begin in Feb 2004. In 2Q 2004 Unilever will also bring together two plants on a single site. The company has also sold four cleaning product brands to Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Group. In 1-3Q 2003 the four brands generated a turnover of $107 M, mainly in the US and Canada. The products are: Final Touch fabric softeners, Niagara ironing products, Sunlight dishwashing detergent and Rit fabric dyes. Het Financieele Dagblad, 11 Dec 2003 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) & 9 Dec 2003, (290), 13 (in Dutch)
Bradford Soap acquires Hewitt Soap Bradford Soap Works has acquired its chief US competitor Hewitt Soap Company Inc, a subsidiary of American Safety Razor Company. The transaction is said to strengthen Bradford’s position as the largest speciality bar soap producer in the US. There are no plans to close any facilities at the moment. Two facilities will be used to specialize in contract business for commodity products such as soap noodles and specialty chemicals; another will be used to produce specialized products that keep pace with market trends. The plant in Chester, UK, will continue to supply the company’s European customers. Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Dec 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
Nova BioGenetics sub-registers Anabec mould product Nova BioGenetics has sub-registered products from Anabec Inc and two other companies with the US EPA. Anabec’s product removes stronger categories of mould and bacteria from porous building materials that harbour these strains. Materials can actually be cleaned and sealed with Anabec’s patented dyne penetrating surfactant used with an EPA registered antimicrobial shield. Press release from: Nova BioGenetics Inc, 8383, Dunwoody Place, Building #3, Atlanta, GA 30350, USA. Tel: +1 770 650 6508. Fax: +1 770 650 0411. Website: http://www.novabiogenetics.com (19 Dec 2003)
7