Strategy

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. says new president and CEO Stéphane de la Faverie will lead in nurturing and building powerful prestige brands while also moving the firm forward “with speed and urgency.” William Lauder announces plans to step down from his role as executive chairman, while Jane Lauder reportedly has also decided to exit.

Accelerating new store openings and adding 6 million more loyalty members are among Ulta’s newly unveiled strategic priorities. At the firm’s 16 October Investor Day, the retailer reported it is lowering its long-term outlook to account for “normalization” of the US beauty market post-COVID and increasing prestige competition.

Bayer’s Midol and nonprofit Period. provide PeriodTalk campaign for awareness of the gaps in period education; “The M Factor” film coming day before World Menopause Day in October; Exeltis USA’s Blues Away provides postpartum mood support; and Doctor's Best Women's Collection includes menopause, sleep, digestive, heart and hair/skin/nails support products.

In this episode of HBW Insight's Over The Counter podcast, we connect with Neil D’Souza, CEO of Makersite GmbH, a data software company based in Stuttgart, Germany that offers “next generation” product data management tools that help personal care and other industries manage product sustainability, cost and compliance.

“We have a relatively low exposure to private label to start with. But we don't see penetration of private label going up in 2024,” says CEO Thibaut Mongon. Recent research from analysts, though, shows increase in consumers turning to lower-priced health and personal care alternatives.

“We're significantly investing more in reaching more consumers, but we're doing it in a very different way,” says CGO Charmaine England. Brands may be “iconic,” but on their own they’re not driving sales growth, says CEO Thibaut Mongon.

Global beauty giant is working to adapt its approach to the prestige market to meet escalating competition, increased points of sale, and more knowledgeable consumers with new shopping habits, CFO Tracey Travis said at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference.

P&G has worked to ‘rebuild’ the SK-II brand in China over the past year with a focus on product quality, efficacy and the line’s core ingredient, as well as improved messaging, and recently launched SK-II's ‘most crafted, exclusive and luxurious skin care series’ to date, CFO Andre Schulten noted at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference.

Key challenges facing companies working to implement the European Sustainability Reporting Standards have been identified by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group. Onur Durmus, Partner at sustainability consultancy ERM, shares his thoughts on EFRAG’s findings and offers takeaways for firms that will be subject to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

Laifen, Opalescence Moon, Lewie and quip are among US companies with recent launches to boost their oral care market shares. Recent launch by Arm & Hammer global oral care brand also targets driving growth in the category.

Wild.AI women's health and wellness app available on Zepp’s Amazfit Active; WAT Medical’s app helps users lose weight; and firm Cronometer adds feature to answer users’ most frequent question, "How do I track water?"

This HBW Insight series profiles regulatory affairs specialists working in or supporting the consumer health and beauty product industries. In this installment, we speak to Kenvue's Kevin Whelan.

CEO Sue Nabi says Coty has created a “multi-functional, stand-alone organization” within its Consumer Beauty business to drive rapid-fire innovation. In a 20 August presentation, Nabi said the firm’s innovation pipeline undergirds its fiscal 2025 outlook of 6%-8% growth.

Mentholatum says two line extensions made with 2% salicylic acid and its "Oxy for Every Kind of Ne" campaign reinforce the brand’s “commitment to tackling every type of acne—from face-ne and chin-ne to body-ne.”

“We continue to believe that taking care of your health or someone in your family is the last place to look to make a change or save a few pennies,” says CEO Ron Lombardi. Firm more frequently using air freight services so Clear Eyes products are on store shelves when consumers expect.

Church & Dwight’s slower sales at retail in June-July than in January-May point to still slower results for rest of year. It doesn’t expect second-half help from gummy vitamin lines or give them a full vote of confidence for remaining in portfolio.

L’Oréal's European business recorded sales growth of 9.7% to €3.55bn in the second quarter as consumer confidence grows, while in the US sales slowed for the dermatological beauty business and consumers in China are value-shopping.

Estee Lauder Companies taps a CFO; L’Oréal SA expands SkinCeuticals brand in Japan through Cutera partnership; IFF's Shanghai Creative Center operational by September; vegan hair care brand Naturaz expanding retail with seed funding; American Exchange Group acquires Indie Lee; and US men using skin care up 68% since 2022.  

Brimonidine tartrate eye drops remain key sales driver among Canadian firm’s consumer health lines with 12% growth in the latest quarter. B+L expects pending launch of preservative-free line extension to sustain Lumify as a driver as generics of original formulation are approved.

P&G's FY2024 Q4 net sales were flat at $20.5bn, lower than consensus estimates, but the firm says its underlying business divisions are healthy and forecasts FY2025 sales up 2% to 4%, up 3% to 5% organically.