Ecolab’s First Quarter Sales Rise 12% to $979 Million

Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, MN, reported diluted net income per share grew 19%, diluted earnings per share from ongoing operations increased 24% and consolidated sales jumped 12% to $979 million for the first quarter ended March 31.

Executives said U.S. and international operations showed improvement from fourth quarter 2003 and good growth compared to last year. “Business trends are improving in our core hospitality and foodservice markets, and we are exploiting these with a terrific slate of new differentiated products and further investments in our industry-leading sales-and-service force,” commented Allan L. Schuman, Ecolab’s chairman and chief executive officer. “In addition, our focus on process improvements and cost efficiencies has leveraged our top-line gains.”

The company plans to introduce new products into attractive market segments, add innovative complementary services and continue to expand market share this year.

First quarter sales for Ecolab’s U.S. cleaning and sanitizing operations rose 3% to $431 million. Operating income in the division also rose 11% to $77 million, reflecting the benefits of an improved business mix, operating improvements and cost efficiencies, executives said.