Reckitt Benckiser prepares to sell off non-core brands
On the back of strong sales of its hygiene products brought about by COVID-19, German personal care and household products provider Reckitt Benckiser is preparing to sell off a number of non-core personal care brands.
The company is preparing to sell off brands that include E45 skin cream, Veet hair removal, Clearasil acne cream and Scholl foot products amongst others, according to a source said to be close to the potential deal.
These major household brands could generate a sales figure in excess of £1bn, according to the sources, based on combined annual sales of more than £120m for all the brands.
Strategically, the sale could enable the company to focus on its core focus, which is health and hygiene. Although the brands that are earmarked for a potential sale are successful, they are outside of this focus.
The sale could fit the acquisitive interests of other European based personal care players, specifically, Henkel, Beiersdorf and Unilever, which have broader portfolios that already cover the skin care category.
CEW launches women’s leadership awards
Adding to its growing portfolio of virtual events, the CEW has launched The Women’s Leadership Awards, a two day event that will celebrate women and achievement in the cosmetics and personal care industry.
Scheduled to take place in the afternoons of October 21st and 22nd, 1pm to 5pm, the online event will also reveal the indie26 – which platforms 26 outstanding black female-founded beauty companies that are disrupting the industry.
The event will also platform a series of thought leaders who will share insights on topics related to women’s empowerment, equality and excellence.
For those purchasing tickets, individuals will have access to live sessions, networking, on-demand content, recordings and event material.
Additionally attendees will also receive the new Digital Journal, containing exclusive content on leadership, women’s achievement and more information highlighting key take aways from the event.
Event tickets are currently on sales to members at $100 and non-members at $150, which there is a special offer of a ticket and membership at a discounted rate of $200.
Ales Groupe sold to Impala
France-based Ales Groupe, which went in to administration in July of this year, has been sold to another French company, Impala SAS.
Ales owns the Phyto and Lierac beauty brands, but the company was hard hits by the pandemic, forcing it to go in to administration through the French legal systems.
Earlier this week a French court declared that the new owner would be Impala SAS, a diversified brands and asset management company, with stakes in a wide variety of consumer brands.
With a sale price that valued the company at £12.3m, the deal will see the company’s hairdressing division, which includes Franklin Roosevelt Coiffure et Beauté, as well as the brands, taken over by the current managers in accordance with an offer they made through Impala.
The take-over also includes the commitment to take on the majority of the 102 Ales staff for at least the next two years.
Natura, L’Oréal and Estée Lauder score top points for inclusivity
The annual Refinitiv Report is out, highlighting Natura, L’Oréal and Estée Lauder as being amongst the top ranking companies in the world for inclusiveness and diversity.
All three multinational cosmetic and personal care players were in the top 25 ranked businesses worldwide, with Brazil-based Natura coming in at the highest position with being ranked in the number two position with an overall score of 80.25.
L’Oréal was ranked in sixth place of a total of 100 businesses, with a score of 78 points, while Estée Lauder cam was ranked 18th with a total score of 75.25.
The 2020 rankings included 18 banking, investment and insurance, firms, 9 pharmaceutical businesses, 7 telecommunication companies, together with specialty retailers and personal and household product players.
With respect to countries, US led the way, with 20 companies in the top 100 list, followed by the UK with 13, Australia with 9, and both Canada and France on 7.
But it is also very interesting to note that when it comes to cultural and diversity board diversity, while the EMEA regions leads the way, Africa has the highest number of female managers, at 34%.
“We are delighted that our D&I Index continues to be used as a guide to help firms across the globe create a more effective workforce through diverse teams,” said Debra Walton, chief revenue officer at Refinitiv.
“The global pandemic has certainly brought to light a renewed focus on diversity and inclusion, reinforcing the reality that we are all in this together. Data-based insights and transparency are a fundamental element of a successful movement to achieve more diverse and inclusive workplaces.”
L’Oréal launches new retail concept at NYC airport
The newly extended and refurbished LaGuardia airport in New York City will be the launch platform for a new tech-based retail concept for L’Oréal called Beauty Hub.
Opened in partnership with The Marshall Retail Group, the store is located in the new Bowery Bay Shops retail area, in the brand new Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall.
The concept store builds on L’Oréal’s extensive and diversified portfolio, specifically highlighting cosmetic and personal care solutions that target the specific needs of travellers.
It will platform brands that include Urban Decay, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and It Cosmetics, as well as number one best sellers such as La Roche-Posay and namesake brand L’Oréal Paris.
The store concept is said to blur the line between physical and digital thanks to an array of digital elements that have been combined into the retail space. This includes two large screen displaying travel relevant messages and unique information about the company’s portfolio.
On top of this, there is also a transparent LED screen that invites travellers to personalize their cosmetic and personal care purchases according to their specific needs.
“This breakthrough and disruptive retail concept aims at providing the American frequent-traveller with truly memorable and convenient experiences. A curated traveller-centric offer, fully digitalised, ever-changing and adapting, so convenient and yet so exciting with bespoke on-the fly- services,” said L’Oréal Travel Retail Americas Managing Director, Yannick Raynaud.
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