07.07.09
Melrose Park, IL
708.450.3000
www.alberto.com
Sales: $1.4 billion
Sales: $1.4 billion for personal care and household products. Corporate sales: $1.44 billion. Net income: $228 million for the year ended Sept. 30, 2009.
Key Personnel: Carol Lavin Bernick, chairman; V. James Marino, president and chief executive officer; Richard J. Hynes, president, international; Casey Keller, president, U.S.; Gina Boswell, president, global brands; Ralph J. Nicoletti, senior vice president, chief financial officer; Richard Mewborn, senior vice president, global operations; Gary P. Schmidt, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.
Major Products: Alberto VO5, Tresemmé, Nexxus, Consort, Soft & Beautiful, Just for Me, Comb-Thru, Motions and TCB hair care products; St. Ives skin care products; FDS feminine deodorant sprays.
New Products: Noxzema skin care (acquisition).
Comments: Corporate sales rose 9.7% last year. U.S. sales increased 5.0% to $863.0 million, due primarily to higher sales of Tresemmé shampoos, conditioners and styling products (4.3%) and multicultural brands (0.7%). International sales increased 16.5% to $580.5 million due to higher sales of Tresemmé shampoos, conditioners and styling products (11.0%), St. Ives products (0.9%) and the effect of foreign exchange rates (2.8%).
“Despite soft hair care category trends in key markets like the U.S. and the U.K., we were able to generate high single-digit organic revenue growth,” observed James Marino, president and chief executive officer.
More than a year ago, Alberto sold its Cedderoth International unit to CapMan, a Nordic-based private equity firm. Following its acquisition of Noxzema in October, Alberto-Culver executives are confident that they can build a strong skin care business in the U.S. to complement hair care. The company is quick to point out that Noxzema has 90% brand recognition with consumers.
But for now, Alberto-Culver is all about hair. For the first half of 2009, net sales increased nearly 1% to $697 million. Growth was driven by Tresemmé and Nexxus.