In Brief: SmithKline Beecham
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
SmithKline Beecham: Aquafresh 1995 sales jumped 16% to $330 mil. on a comparable basis, the company announced Feb. 20. The increase, the firm noted, was "helped by the successful" international launch of Aquafresh Whitening toothpaste ("The Rose Sheet" April 17, p. 6) and the Flex Direct toothpaste line in the U.S. Aquafresh brand sales represented nearly 50% of SB's oral healthcare business sales of $711 (up 12% over 1994 on a comparable basis). Oral healthcare accounted for 22.4% of SB's consumer health care unit, which garnered sales of $3.17 bil. (up 35% on a comparable basis) for the year. Consolidated SmithKline Beecham revenues advanced 16% to $11.08 bil. for 1995 while net earnings excluding exceptional items grew 8% to $1.56 bil...