Demand Slows for Natural and Organic Personal Care

Sales of natural and organic personal care brands are growing at a single-digit pace in Europe, down from double-digit gains, according to Organic Monitor, which blames the slowdown on the debt crisis impacting retailers and consumer expenditure.


As growth becomes harder to achieve, leading brands are targeting new distribution channels for growth. According to Organic Monitor, brands are making most inroads in drugstores, pharmacies, beauty retailers and department stores. Specialist retailers – the traditional channel for natural and organic brands – still comprise most sales however, with 40% market share. Although many supermarkets and hypermarkets have launched private label ranges, the market share for mass market retailers remains below 10% at the European level.


The UK market has been the most adversely affected by the financial crisis. Revenues have been increasing by about 6% a year since the crisis started in 2008. The harsh retail environment has led many UK natural and organic brands to target export markets for growth. For example, many British brands have made significant inroads in the Nordic market, according to Organic Monitor. Some like Bulldog have gone further a field, exporting to the US, Australia as well as to parts of Europe.


Germany, with the largest market for natural and organic personal care products, is showing sluggish growth this year. The country also leads in terms of market share; natural and organic products comprise 7% of total personal care products. Private labels have had most success in the German market. Alverde of DM drugstores is the third leading natural brand, with more than 300 products.


The French market has witnessed the largest number of new product launches in recent years. Many large cosmetic companies have introduced natural and organic lines. L’’Oréal is marketing a range of products under popular brands, such as Garnier, Ushuaïa, Biotherm and Mixa. Other multinationals, including Henkel and Unilever, have also developed certified organic lines for the French market. Although mass market distribution has increased significantly, the channel comprises less then 15% of natural and organic personal care product sales.


Rising competition from new brands and slowing market growth rates are pushing brands towards new channels. Dr. Hauschka is targeting high-end outlets, including beauty retailers and department stores. PHYT’S is focusing on para-pharmacies, whie Primavera is targeting the spa channel. Many are taking the direct route and opening concept stores. Korres and Melvita are frontrunners with their international retail networks.


In its upcoming European market report, to be published in December, Organic Monitor expects market growth rates to recover as economic conditions improve. However, competition is expected to remain intense as natural & organic brands increasingly jostle for shelf-space with large cosmetic firms. Brands that have a clear strategy in terms of product offering or distribution are expected to succeed in the changing market landscape.


An update on the European Natural & Organic Personal Care Products Market – including marketing and distribution developments – will be given in the upcoming Sustainable Cosmetics Summit. Leading natural personal care brands, including Bulldog, PHYT’S, Primavera, Korres, Apivita, as well as conventional cosmetic firms (L’’Oréal, Beiersdorf, Unilever and Chanel) will be participating in this executive summit. Registration for the summit closes on November 16, 2012.


More info: www.organicmonitor.com