France
www.yvesrocher.com
Sales: $2.7 billion

Key Personnel:
Bris Rocher, chairman and chief executive officer; René Desmarais, chief executive officer, Yves Rocher North America Inc.; Stephane Bianchi, president, Yves Rocher North America

Major Products:
Skin care, cosmetics and fine fragrances marketed under the brand names of Yves Rocher, Dr. Pierre Ricaud, Stanhome, Kiotis and Daniel Jouvance

New Products:
Skin care—Pure Calmille 2 in 1 Cleanser + Toner, Les Plaisirs Nature Wild Strawberry EDT, Cure Solutions 24 hour Vitality Skin Care Anti-Fatigue and Anti-Asphyxiation Flash Mask, Limited Edition Arnica Essentiel Hand Cream; Makeup—Aquarelles Végétales Sunny tri-powder, lipgloss and nail polish; Fragrances—Flowerparty EDT, Fruity Water for Summer EDT

Comments:
Nothing has changed at Yves Rocher, despite the passing of its founder. That’s the promise from Bris Rocher, who took over the company following his grandfather’s death in December. Bris Rocher observed that while “everything has changed” in the world during the past 50 years, “nothing has changed” at Yves Rocher and that the company aims to continue its founder’s legacy for the next 50 years.

In June, Yves Rocher opened its first North American franchise. The Atelier of Botanical Beauty is a 648-sq. ft. shop located in the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.

The opening comes a year after the global launch of the Atelier store concept—a franchise business plan aimed at fueling the brand’s global expansion. The company’s goal is to introduce franchising in the U.S. in the next few years, the firm said.

“We are incredibly excited for both the brand and our franchisee because this represents a real milestone for Yves Rocher globally and a real opportunity for Oksana Pachine and her partner Anna Stsibaylo,” said René Desmarais, chief executive officer of Yves Rocher North America Inc. “We were saddened to lose the founder, Mr. Yves Rocher, right before the start of the new year but pleased that the brand is continuing on the path of global expansion laid out by Mr. Rocher.”

Yves Rocher has been operating in North America since the mid-1980s, running a direct mail business in Canada and the U.S. and a store business in Canada. In 2005, it launched an internet sales site.

While both the direct mail and internet business service both Canada and the U.S., the store business remained regional, operating close to 70 stores in Eastern Canada with locations in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Just last month, Yves Rocher launched the limited edition of its best-selling cream, Arnica Essentiel Daily Moisturizer Hand Cream to support Look Good…Feel Better, the Personal Care Product Council’s program that supports cancer patients.

Enriched with organic arnica, this daily cream protects and moisturizes hands, leaving them more beautiful, according to the company. Grown and harvested by Yves Rocher in La Gacilly, France, birthplace of the brand, Arnica Chamisson is organically grown in order to deliver its soothing and protecting virtues intact.

Yves Rocher’s limited edition of the Arnica Essentiel Daily Moisturizer Hand Cream will be available for $4.95 this October with $2 per tube going to the program.