North German cosmetics group Beiersdorf, which makes the Nivea and La Prairie brands, is benefiting from the growth of emerging markets. First quarter 2008 net profits rose 29% to t144m on sales up 9.4% at t1.52bn.
The group's strategy is to achieve a third of its sales outside Europe and it has reported first quarter sales growth in the Asia-Africa-Pacific zone of 30% to t250m, making the emerging markets the second largest contributor to sales within the group. European sales in the first quarter went up 7% to t1.08bn and increased 4.6% in the Americas to tE196m, helped by the strong growth in Latin America. In contrast US sales declined by 13%. Overall, the cosmetics division (85% of total sales) put on 11% in Q! and is expected to expand in 2008 as a whole by about 8%.
