08.02.22
Japan
www.kao.com
Sales: $7.7 billion
Key Personnel: Michitaka Sawada, chairman; Yoshihiro Hasebe, CEO; Toshiaki Takeuchi, senior managing executive officer; Tomoharu Matsuda, senior managing executive officer
Major Products: Beauty Care—Sofina, Kanebo, Molton Brown, Bioré, Curel, Jergens, Asience, John Frieda, Goldwell, My Kirei by Kao, Wakati, KMS; Fabric and Home Care—Attack, Haiter, Magiclean; Human Health Care—Ban, Pyoura and Clear Clean oral care, Bub bath additives
New Products: Bath Magiclean Airjet, Magiclean disinfectant, improved Attack detergent, Bioré Guard Mos Block Serum, Sensai Absolute Silk Illuminative Cream
Comments: Corporate sales declined less than 1%. Within the consumer products business, only sales in Japan declined, falling 5.3%. Elsewhere, sales in Asia increased 7.2%; sales in the Americas rose 15.1%; and sales in Europe increased 14.5%.
By segment, fabric and home care sales fell 1.3% due, in part, to lower demand for household cleaners in Japan. Last year, Kao launched Bath Magiclean Airjet, which is said to make bathtub cleaning easier. In Asia, Kao launched Magiclean disinfectant. The company said demand for fabric care products rose, thanks to consumer awareness of cleanliness due to the pandemic and the successful launch of an improved Attack detergent.
Health and beauty care sales fell 2.2%. According to Kao, sales of skin care products decreased in Japan due to lower demand for hand soap and hand sanitizer. Sales of sun care and other seasonal products were lower as consumers stayed indoors due to inclement weather in Japan and Asia. Sales in the Americas fell, too. Mass market hair care sales declined, but Kao reported a big gain in professional channels. In the Americas, the Oribe brand for high-end hair salons performed strongly in the eCommerce channel. In Europe, the market gradually recovered. Sales of bath additives and other personal health products were flat, as consumers stayed home over pandemic fears. Sales of hand sanitizers and other cleansers rose 1.7%.
Earlier this year, Kao made a novel move in sustainability by recycling its makeup with Mangata Co., Ltd., a paint maker. Under terms of the deal, Kao supplies Mangata with cosmetics that could not become final products and those that did not meet quality standards in laboratories.
For Q1, 2022, corporate sales jumped 8.2%. Cosmetics sales rose more than 10%. In China, sales rose on the strength of Freeplus and Curél. Elsewhere, sales of Sensai and Molton Brown grew substantially in Europe.
Fabric and home care sales rose 1.5%. Fabric care sales were up due to demand for laundry detergent. However, household cleaner sales dipped as covid concerns faded. The one exception was CuCute dishwashing detergent. With an improved formula, the product significantly increased its market share in Japan.
Health and beauty care sales fell 1.4% due, in part, to a decline in skin care sales. In Japan, sales of hand soap and other hygiene-related products grew, but sales of UV care and other seasonal products were impacted by the resurgence of the covid-19 pandemic. In the US, logistical headaches caused a decline in sales. Sales of hair care products fell.
In Japan, the severely competitive environment continued. Sales of Oribe, a brand for high-end hair salons in the US, performed strongly mainly driven by e-commerce sales. However, sales of Goldwell, another professional hair care brand, were affected by inventory adjustment by an agency, according to Kao.
In Europe, sales remained steady due to normalization of economic activities. In addition, price increases outside Japan began to show results.
www.kao.com
Sales: $7.7 billion
Key Personnel: Michitaka Sawada, chairman; Yoshihiro Hasebe, CEO; Toshiaki Takeuchi, senior managing executive officer; Tomoharu Matsuda, senior managing executive officer
Major Products: Beauty Care—Sofina, Kanebo, Molton Brown, Bioré, Curel, Jergens, Asience, John Frieda, Goldwell, My Kirei by Kao, Wakati, KMS; Fabric and Home Care—Attack, Haiter, Magiclean; Human Health Care—Ban, Pyoura and Clear Clean oral care, Bub bath additives
New Products: Bath Magiclean Airjet, Magiclean disinfectant, improved Attack detergent, Bioré Guard Mos Block Serum, Sensai Absolute Silk Illuminative Cream
Comments: Corporate sales declined less than 1%. Within the consumer products business, only sales in Japan declined, falling 5.3%. Elsewhere, sales in Asia increased 7.2%; sales in the Americas rose 15.1%; and sales in Europe increased 14.5%.
By segment, fabric and home care sales fell 1.3% due, in part, to lower demand for household cleaners in Japan. Last year, Kao launched Bath Magiclean Airjet, which is said to make bathtub cleaning easier. In Asia, Kao launched Magiclean disinfectant. The company said demand for fabric care products rose, thanks to consumer awareness of cleanliness due to the pandemic and the successful launch of an improved Attack detergent.
Health and beauty care sales fell 2.2%. According to Kao, sales of skin care products decreased in Japan due to lower demand for hand soap and hand sanitizer. Sales of sun care and other seasonal products were lower as consumers stayed indoors due to inclement weather in Japan and Asia. Sales in the Americas fell, too. Mass market hair care sales declined, but Kao reported a big gain in professional channels. In the Americas, the Oribe brand for high-end hair salons performed strongly in the eCommerce channel. In Europe, the market gradually recovered. Sales of bath additives and other personal health products were flat, as consumers stayed home over pandemic fears. Sales of hand sanitizers and other cleansers rose 1.7%.
Earlier this year, Kao made a novel move in sustainability by recycling its makeup with Mangata Co., Ltd., a paint maker. Under terms of the deal, Kao supplies Mangata with cosmetics that could not become final products and those that did not meet quality standards in laboratories.
For Q1, 2022, corporate sales jumped 8.2%. Cosmetics sales rose more than 10%. In China, sales rose on the strength of Freeplus and Curél. Elsewhere, sales of Sensai and Molton Brown grew substantially in Europe.
Fabric and home care sales rose 1.5%. Fabric care sales were up due to demand for laundry detergent. However, household cleaner sales dipped as covid concerns faded. The one exception was CuCute dishwashing detergent. With an improved formula, the product significantly increased its market share in Japan.
Health and beauty care sales fell 1.4% due, in part, to a decline in skin care sales. In Japan, sales of hand soap and other hygiene-related products grew, but sales of UV care and other seasonal products were impacted by the resurgence of the covid-19 pandemic. In the US, logistical headaches caused a decline in sales. Sales of hair care products fell.
In Japan, the severely competitive environment continued. Sales of Oribe, a brand for high-end hair salons in the US, performed strongly mainly driven by e-commerce sales. However, sales of Goldwell, another professional hair care brand, were affected by inventory adjustment by an agency, according to Kao.
In Europe, sales remained steady due to normalization of economic activities. In addition, price increases outside Japan began to show results.