05.01.12
Reckitt Benckiser's focus on its core "power brands" and emerging markets is working, as its Q1 sales rose 4%, slightly ahead of its 3.8% estimate. For the quarter, sales came in at $3.8 billion at current exchange rates.
"These results give us the confidence to reiterate our 2012 target of like-for-like net revenue growth of 200 basis points above our market growth rate of 1-2%. We also expect to maintain full year operating margins," said New Chief Executive Rakesh Kapoor, who took over last September after Bart Becht's abrupt departure.
The maker of Nurofen painkillers and Cillit Bang cleaners reported like-for-like first-quarter sales, stripping out its Suboxone pharmaceuticals division, up 4 percent and slightly ahead of a company-compiled forecast for a 3.8 percent rise.