Top Companies Report

The International Top 30 Report

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08.06.09

Is the Fat Lady Ready To Sing...Yet?

Welcome to Happi’s 2009 International Top 30 Report, our annual look at the leading companies in the household and personal products industry with headquarters outside of the U.S.

This report is based on sales recorded in 2008—and as we now know all too well, the global recession was in full swing back then. As a result, inside these pages you will find stories of difficulties and disappointing results. But there are also clearcut examples of growth via acquisition, international market expansion, successful launches and long-term commitment to making greener products and using greener processes.

Is she ready to sing? The household and personal products industry is looking for a sign that the global recession is coming to the end.

Regardless of how a company fared in 2008, they all have a common bond this year: shared apprehension about how 2009 will pan out. And as we move past the half-way point, and sales and earnings reports trickle in, all eyes are clearly looking out for signs of economic recovery—something, anything, that might let us know that the fat lady is ready to sing, or at least she’s warming up her vocal chords. Okay—is she at least in the building?

This year’s top five includes Unilever (UK), L’Oréal (France), Reckitt Benckiser (UK), Henkel (Germany) and Kao (Japan)—quite a global mix especially when you
consider each touts successful brands that sell well internationally as well as at home. Rounding out the top 10 are Beiersdorf, Shiseido, LVMH, Chanel and Lion. (If you are looking for a U.S.-based company, see our annual Top 50 Report, the most recent of which was published in July 2009).

Our methodology is simple. As we have done in every report since our first in 1991, firms are ranked by their annual sales of household, personal care and beauty products for their most recently concluded fiscal year, and are translated from their currency into U.S. dollars using an average exchange rate for the fiscal year reported. For privately held firms, sales are estimated via a variety of industry sources.

As always, we hope you enjoy this edition of the International Top 30, and we welcome your comments on our ranking as well as anything else you may read in this issue, or online at happi.com.

Christine Esposito
Associate Editor
christine@rodpub.com