08.06.09
Is the Fat Lady Ready To Sing...Yet?
Welcome to Happi’s 2009 International Top 30 Report, our annual look at the leading companies in the household and personal products industry with headquarters outside of the U.S.
This report is based on sales recorded in 2008—and as we now know all too well, the global recession was in full swing back then. As a result, inside these pages you will find stories of difficulties and disappointing results. But there are also clearcut examples of growth via acquisition, international market expansion, successful launches and long-term commitment to making greener products and using greener processes.
Is she ready to sing? The household and personal products industry is looking for a sign that the global recession is coming to the end. |
This year’s top five includes Unilever (UK), L’Oréal (France), Reckitt Benckiser (UK), Henkel (Germany) and Kao (Japan)—quite a global mix especially when you
consider each touts successful brands that sell well internationally as well as at home. Rounding out the top 10 are Beiersdorf, Shiseido, LVMH, Chanel and Lion. (If you are looking for a U.S.-based company, see our annual Top 50 Report, the most recent of which was published in July 2009).
Our methodology is simple. As we have done in every report since our first in 1991, firms are ranked by their annual sales of household, personal care and beauty products for their most recently concluded fiscal year, and are translated from their currency into U.S. dollars using an average exchange rate for the fiscal year reported. For privately held firms, sales are estimated via a variety of industry sources.
As always, we hope you enjoy this edition of the International Top 30, and we welcome your comments on our ranking as well as anything else you may read in this issue, or online at happi.com.
Christine Esposito
Associate Editor
christine@rodpub.com
The International Top 30
1. Unilever • United Kingdom • $27.3 billion
2. L’Oréal • France • $25.8 billion
3. Reckitt Benckiser • United Kingdom • $11.2 billion
4. Henkel • Germany • $10.5 billion
4. Kao • Japan • $10.5 billion
6. Beiersdorf • Germany • $7.5 billion
7. Shiseido • Japan • $6.9 billion
8. LVMH • France • $4.2 billion
9. Chanel • France • $3.3 billion
10. Lion • Japan• $2.9 billion
11. Natura • Brazil • $2.7 billion
12. Yves Rocher • France • $2.5 billion
13. GlaxoSmithKline • United Kingdom • $2.2 billion
14. Kosé • Japan • $1.8 billion
15. Oriflame • Sweden • $1.7 billion
16. Clarins • France • $1.5 billion
17. Puig • Spain • $1.43 billion
18. Amore Pacific • South Korea • $1.42 billion
19. LG • South Korea • $1.26 billion
20. Pierre Fabre • France • $1.2 billion
21. Bolton Group • The Netherlands • $1.1 billion
22. Pola • Japan • $986 million
23. PZ Cussons • United Kingdom• $975 million
24. Lornamead • United Kingdom • $762 million
25. Sisley • France • $662 million
26. Sunstar • Switzerland • $643 million
27. Menard • Japan • $582 million
28. Colomer • Spain • $571 million
29. Mandom • Japan • $552 million
30. Fancl • Japan • $501 million