Sales Jump at L’Oreal

L’Oréal posted sales of $28.8 billion last year, a gain of 10.4%. Net income increased 15.1% to $3.8 billion. The company noted that 2012 was a milestone year as new markets became the No. 1 geographic zone.


“The group achieved strong sales growth, and once again demonstrated its ability to outperform the beauty market, and to gain market share, even in the more difficult markets of Western Europe and the US,” said Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO. “(It) was also a very good vintage in terms of innovations – amongst the most remarkable in the industry – in each of our divisions and major business segments.”


By division, professional product sales rose 6.7% to $3.8 billion; consumer product sales rose 8.9% to $13.7 billion; Luxury sales surged 16% to $7.1 billion and sales of active cosmetics increased 7.5% to $1.9 billion. The Body Shop reported an 11.4% increase in sales to $1.1 billion and sales of the dermatology business surged 12.9% to just over $1 billion.


During the year, the company acquired Vogue makeup brand in Colombia, opened its largest factory with a new site in Indonesia and created a new subsidiary, L’Oréal KSA in Saudi Arabia.