In Brief: Colgate Palmolive
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Colgate Palmolive: Colgate Total, Colgate Tartar Control Whitening toothpaste and Whitening toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide boost North American fourth quarter sales 9% and contribute to strong growth in the firm's oral care business, the company said Feb. 3. Softsoap body wash with vitamin E and Speed Stick Ultimate antiperspirant with odor protection also drove sales in the U.S., the company reported. For the year, North American sales grew 7% to $1.99 bil. (22% of sales), while sales in Colgate's largest region, Latin America, increased 11% to $2.35 bil. (26% of sales). The firm said it supported the Latin American region with "record levels of new product introductions and advertising." Due to currency problems, sales in Europe decreased 5% to $1.99 bil. (22% of sales). In Asia/Africa, sales for the year were flat at $1.72 bil. based on currency difficulties in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Consolidated sales for the year increased 3.5% to $9.06 bil., and net income grew 16.6% to $740.4 mil...