The German manufacturer of the Nivea skin care and body brand, Beiersdorf expanded group business slowly through 2012 to increase overall sales by 4.7% to €6.04bn - slightly above market expectations. Its consumer division sales, which also includes the Eucerin and Atrixo brands, grew 4.9% in organic terms to €5.04bn.
Stefan Heidenreich, chairman of Beiersdorf AG, said the company was satisfied with 2012 results which had indicated that strategy was correctly aligned. He said that the Nivea brand had been strengthened in several markets, winning increased market share. The company increased sales sharply in Russia, Poland, Latin America and the Africa-Asia-Australia region with growth offsetting a pallid situation in Europe. The current results are provisional and final figures are due out in March.