07.07.09
Downers Grove, IL
630.598.6000
www.saralee.com
Sales: $2.3 billion
Sales: $2.3 billion for household and body care products. Corporate sales: $13.2 billion. Net loss: $79 million for the year ended June 30, 2008.
Key Personnel: Brenda C. Barnes, chairman and chief executive officer; Vincent H.A.M. Janssen, executive vice president and chief executive officer, Sara Lee International household and beauty care.
Major Products: Body care—Badedas, Block & White, Brylcreem, Duschdas, Eskinol, Fissan (Germany), Fissan (Italy), Gabi, Glysolid, Jovan, Monsavon, Neutral (Denmark), Neutral (Netherlands), Prodent, Proderm, Radox, S3, Sanex, She, Status, Williams, Zendium (Den- mark), Zendium (Netherlands), Zwitsal. Air care—Ambi Pur, Endust, Ty-D-Bol. Detergents—Biotex. Insecticides—Bloom, Catch, Cruz+Verde, Cucal, Good Knight, Hit, Jet, Polil, Pyrel, Ridsect and Vapona. Shoe care—Bama, Kiwi, Tana.
New Products: Duschdas Alaun deodorant spray, Radox antibacterial hand wash, Sanex Dermo Protector shower gel; Ambi Pur Wild White Flower fragrance; Ambi Pur Car; Endust Free Dusting & Cleaning Spray; Kiwi Fresh Force shoe freshener.
Comments: Sara Lee may be exiting the household and personal products industry. Back in March, rumors swirled that the company would sell the unit to focus solely on food. But at press time, Sara Lee hadn’t found a buyer, probably because its price tag is too high. Also, since its portfolio is so diverse, there may be multiple buyers.
As the economy slips, so too has the division’s sales. For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, sales declined 9.8% to $1.8 billion. Unit volume was off 2.4%. While the price tag and timing could be better, most analysts believe the move is the right one. Selling the unit will enable Sara Lee to focus on food—primarily processed meat, bread and coffee.
Last year, sales of household and personal care products rose more than 12%, but most of the increase was due to currency fluctuations. In fiscal 2008, 70% of the segment’s sales were generated in Western and Central Europe, 21% in the Asia Pacific region and 4% in the U.S. The remaining portion of the segment’s sales was generated primarily in Africa.
Corporate sales rose 10.3% last year.