Multinational beauty retailer Douglas’ shares have jumped after the company reported a bumper third quarter of trading in 2025.
Group sales rose 3.2% to €1bn, leading shares to increase 9% in early trading on 14 August, and marking a return to year-on year growth after a 2% decline in Q2.
The German beauty retailer’s sales benefitted from the calendar shift of Easter into April, which had previously led to a negative effect on Q2 sales.
Subdued consumer sentiment in France impacted growth, however, which was offset by a stronger performance from Central Eastern Europe with a 10.5% increase in sales.
Douglas-owned fragrance brand Parfumdreams and cosmetics retailer Niche Beauty saw combined sales growth of 19.2%.
“We have delivered solid overall growth and are on track to achieve our guidance for the current financial year,” said Sander van der Laan, CEO of the Douglas Group.
“While customers in France keep a tighter hold on their spending, the good development in the vast majority of our 22 omnichannel markets brought us back to quarterly growth after a challenging second quarter.”
Douglas “safeguarded” its profitability in Q3, with reported EBITDA improving by 1.4% to €154.6m.
Group store sales also rose by 2.1%, mainly driven by the expansion of its store network through the ‘Let it Bloom’ retail portfolio improvement strategy.
The scheme has seen Douglas develop its store network and progress towards opening an estimated 200 new stores by the end of 2026 and refurbishing 400 existing ones.
It opened 22 new stores between April and June 2025, including a new flagship in Antwerp, Belgium.
The overall strong quarter led Douglas to maintain its overall guidance for the remainder of 2025, expecting sales to be slightly above €4.5bn.
“Our largest market, Germany, also picked up again and grew year-on-year,” van der Laan added.
“That said, we continue to do our homework.
“We remain committed to keeping SG&A costs under control and driving our strategic development, including strengthening our brand and advancing our supply chain and IT capabilities.”
Douglas acquired Disapo, an online pharmacy based in the Netherlands, in 2022, as part of a former strategy to enter the pharmacy market and combine its beauty and health offerings.
The transaction for the sale closed in July 2024.
Related content:
- Douglas shares dip below IPO guidance on first day of trading
- Douglas raises full-year guidance ahead of Q3 results
- Il Makiage owner Oddity raises full-year outlook as Q2 results deliver
- Laneige helps boost Amorepacific sales growth in second quarter
- Unilever’s turnover for first half 2025 down 3.2% with subdued growth in beauty
- Kering sales plummet as Creed fragrances shore up ailing luxury demand
- Procter & Gamble confirm US price hikes due to tariffs and names new CEO
- L’Oréal sales buoyed by China and hair care but miss analyst expectations
- LVMH’s downturn in revenues shored up by beauty and Sephora