Charles Sternberg, Assistant Editor04.16.21
L’Oréal has shared its financial results for the first quarter of 2021. The company reported sales of €6,614.5 million ($7.93 billion), an increase of 10.2% on a like-for-like basis compared to the first quarter of 2020.
Three divisions, L’Oréal Luxe, Active Cosmetics and Professional Products, posted double-digit gains. Only the makeup-laden Consumer Products division posted a decline in sales. During the period, L’Oréal’s e-commerce sales increased 47.2% and now account for 26.8% of group sales. Sales in China rose nearly 38%.
Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO, said growth, which began in Q3 2020, is accelerating.
“The performance of the Professional Products, L’Oréal Luxe and Active Cosmetics Divisions is remarkable, all showing double-digit growth,” he said. “The Professional Products Division is posting significant growth all over the world. The growth of L’Oréal Luxe is driven by the success of its skin care brands, particularly Lancôme, Kiehl’s and Helena Rubinstein. Active Cosmetics continues to build on the strong momentum already seen in 2020. The Consumer Products Division is stable, still held back by its high exposure to the makeup category, which remains lackluster.”
With the exception of Western Europe, which is still struggling with lockdown measures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the group’s geographic zones were posting gains.
“North America is performing well both online and offline,” Agon said. “All zones in the New Markets are growing above 10% [like-for-like], especially the Asia Pacific zone, which is returning to the extremely dynamic pre-pandemic growth rates, driven most notably by a fast-growing mainland China.”
Three divisions, L’Oréal Luxe, Active Cosmetics and Professional Products, posted double-digit gains. Only the makeup-laden Consumer Products division posted a decline in sales. During the period, L’Oréal’s e-commerce sales increased 47.2% and now account for 26.8% of group sales. Sales in China rose nearly 38%.
Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and CEO, said growth, which began in Q3 2020, is accelerating.
“The performance of the Professional Products, L’Oréal Luxe and Active Cosmetics Divisions is remarkable, all showing double-digit growth,” he said. “The Professional Products Division is posting significant growth all over the world. The growth of L’Oréal Luxe is driven by the success of its skin care brands, particularly Lancôme, Kiehl’s and Helena Rubinstein. Active Cosmetics continues to build on the strong momentum already seen in 2020. The Consumer Products Division is stable, still held back by its high exposure to the makeup category, which remains lackluster.”
With the exception of Western Europe, which is still struggling with lockdown measures imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the group’s geographic zones were posting gains.
“North America is performing well both online and offline,” Agon said. “All zones in the New Markets are growing above 10% [like-for-like], especially the Asia Pacific zone, which is returning to the extremely dynamic pre-pandemic growth rates, driven most notably by a fast-growing mainland China.”
