08.06.09
United Kingdom
www.pzcussons.com
Sales: $975 million
Key Personnel: Anthony J. Green, chairman; A.G. Calder, deputy chairman; Alex Kanellis, chief executive officer; C.G. Davis, regional director-Africa; Brandon H. Leigh, finance director; J. Pantellireis, supply chain director.
Major Products: Personal care and toiletries sold under brands including Imperial Leather, Joy, Cussons Kids, Premier, Carex, Baby, Luksja, Makler, Sweet Seventeen, Venus Hair, Original Source. Household product brands include Morning Fresh, Elephant, Radiant, Robb, Duck and Minera.
New Products: Elephant Colour fabric detergent, Jet multi-purpose detergent, Ava liquid air freshener, Cussons Sahaja basics, Radiant Aquasave, Time Defy hair products.
Comments: PZ Cussons’ corporate sales exceeded $1.3 billion for the year ended May 31, 2008, with sales of $975 million for personal care and household products.
According to chairman Anthony J. Green, the diverse geographic spread of PZ Cussons’ businesses, together with the growing number of categories in which it operates, has demonstrated that the firm can successfully evolve both as markets develop and as economic conditions, both local and global, change.
And could the Cussons product mix get even bigger? Back in April, the Manchester Evening News reported that Cussons was on the “shortlist of bidders” for Sara Lee’s European household and personal care unit, which includes Brylcreem hair gel, Sanex deodorant and Ambi Pur air freshener.
The Sanctuary brand and spa, which Cussons purchased in January 2008, has continued to perform well for its new owners. Approximately two-thirds of revenue and profits are derived from sales from Boots, the sole UK distributor, with the balance arising from The Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden, London.
The Cussons Personal Wash Centre of Excellence in Manchester, England is fully operational with tangible benefits now being realized by the co-location of liquids manufacturing, research and development and perfumery capability at one site, according to the company.