Beiersdorf: Group sales rise by 5.4 % in Q1 / Consumer sales

Beiersdorf has continued last year’s positive trend in the first quarter of 2013, the company announced. Organic Group sales rose by 5.4 %. Nominal sales increased by 2.9 %, from €1,533 million to €1,577 million.

“Beiersdorf made good progress again in the first quarter of 2013. We have made further advancements in implementing our Blue Agenda, in particular in the areas of brands and innovation. Furthermore we expanded our position and increased our market share in emerging markets,” said Stefan F. Heidenreich, CEO of Beiersdorf AG.

Consumer Business Segment

The Consumer Business Segment increased its sales organically by 5.7 % in the first three months of the fiscal year 2013. Nominal sales increased by 3.2 %, from €1,277 million to €1,318 million, the company stated. NIVEA recorded sales growth of 5.7 % compared to the prior-year quarter. Eucerin generated a 9.4 % increase in sales at the end of the period and La Prairie an 8.2 % increase.

Sales in Europe were down 1.2 % versus prior-year mainly due to consumers in Europe – and particularly in Southern European countries – being generally reluctant to spend.

In Western Europe, sales were down 0.7 % on the previous year while in Germany, they were down 1.8 %. Beiersdorf recorded a 1.5 % decline in sales in Eastern Europe after a strong performance in the prior-year quarter, the company reported.

The company saw significant growth in the Americas region, where sales climbed by 14.8 %. Beiersdorf was particularly successful in Latin America, increasing sales by 21.6 %. The main driver here was the strong sales growth recorded in Brazil. Sales in North America were up 5.4 % on the prior-year figure.

Beiersdorf’s sales in the Africa/Asia/Australia region rose by 16.0 %. This was primarily attributable to the positive performance seen in China, India, and the Middle East.

According to Beiersdorf, the company is aiming for sales growth in the Group above market in 2013.