that have introduced such products.Amidst the product launches, outsideforces such as heavy promotions andthe resurgence of dollar stores areprompting marketers to reduce prices.However, data from ACNeilsenStrategic Planner revealed that salesof household cleaning products infood, drug and mass merchandisersdropped 4.3% to $1.95 bn for theyear ended 4 Oct 2003.

HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Dec2003, 40 (12), 95-96

COMPANYRESULTS

Henkel begins to benefit fromrestructuring

Henkel is beginning to show thebenefit from restructuring with 3Q2003 turnover decreasing only 0.1%to €2.371 bn. Allowing for the effectsof the stronger euro, sales wouldhave increased by 3.8% during 3Q2003. Operating profit increased 7.4%to €172 M and net profit increased11.3% to €118 M during 3Q 2003.Henkel’s cosmetics and personal careproducts division recorded operatingprofit increased 11.7% to €44 M during3Q 2003. The washing powdersdivision recorded 0.4% increasedoperating profit of €71 M for 3Q 2003.Henkel’s restructuring programmehas resulted in nearly 2500redundancies over 2001 to 2003.Forecasts for 2004 suggest thatturnover could increase by about 4%.

Chimie Hebdo, 24 Nov 2003, (235), 8-9 (in French)

Procter & Gamble expects proceeds togrow 14-18%

Procter & Gamble (P&G) said that itremains committed to its objective ofdelivering 4 to 6% top-line growth anddouble-digit earnings/share growtheach year. It expects its proceeds togrow by 14-18% year-on-year in thefinancial quarter ending in Dec 2003.For the quarter, organic volumegrowth is expected to be in the 7 to8% range versus a strong baseperiod of 7% organic volume growth.The volume growth continues to beled by fabric and home care, healthcare and developing markets,

particularly Russia and China.According to P&G, the growth will besupported by the acquisition of thehair care products company Wella(Germany) and by the weakexchange-rate of the $.

P&G 2004 expected growth, 10 Dec 2003 (TheProcter & Gamble Co, 1 or 2, Procter & Gamble Plaza,Cincinnati, OH 45201, USA, Tel: +1 513 983 1100,Website: http://www.pg.com) & Hospodarske Noviny,12 Dec 2003, 47 (242), 14 (in Czech)

COMPANYNEWS

National Starch’s encapsulation deal

National Starch & Chemical is toacquire exclusive rights toencapsulation and delivery systemsfor household products and fabriccare markets from Salvona.

Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website:http://www.chemicalweek.com)

Green Dolphin expands distribution

Green Dolphin Systems Corp inkeeping with its aggressive corporategrowth strategy has expanded itsdistribution base for Green Dolphin’sline of eco-friendly laundry additiveproducts from five Distributors in 1Q2003 to eleven Distributors in 3Q 2003.Geographically they encompass thecities of Chicago, Syracuse, St Louis,Atlanta, Baltimore and Dallas.

Press release from: Green Dolphin Systems Corp, POBox 1420, Powell, TN 37849, USA, Tel: +1 888 3798693, Fax: +1 865 947 3966, Website:http://www.greendolphin.net (1 Dec 2003)

Bayer outsources some sales

Kruse Chemie of Balve, Germany, isto take over the sales activities inGermany of Bayer Chemicals’Baypure cleaning agents, cosmeticsand detergents product lines.Baypure products are watersofteners. Kruse had sales of around€290 M in 2002. It has 8 logisticscentres in Germany with a gooddistribution network. Chemical salesexceeded the 2 M tonnes mark for thefirst time in 2002.

Chemical Week, 3 Dec 2003, 165 (43) (Website:http://www.chemicalweek.com)

Unilever cuts 175 jobs in HPC, sellsfour brands

Unilever is to lay off around 175workers in its Home and PersonalCare (HPC) division in the US. Thecuts will begin in Feb 2004. In 2Q2004 Unilever will also bring togethertwo plants on a single site.

The company has also sold fourcleaning product brands to LehmanBrothers Merchant Banking Group. In1-3Q 2003 the four brands generateda turnover of $107 M, mainly in theUS and Canada. The products are:Final Touch fabric softeners, Niagaraironing products, Sunlight dishwashingdetergent and Rit fabric dyes.

Het Financieele Dagblad, 11 Dec 2003 (Website:http://www.fd.nl/) & 9 Dec 2003, (290), 13 (in Dutch)

Bradford Soap acquires Hewitt Soap

Bradford Soap Works has acquired itschief US competitor Hewitt SoapCompany Inc, a subsidiary ofAmerican Safety Razor Company.The transaction is said to strengthenBradford’s position as the largestspeciality bar soap producer in theUS. There are no plans to close anyfacilities at the moment. Two facilitieswill be used to specialize in contractbusiness for commodity productssuch as soap noodles and specialtychemicals; another will be used toproduce specialized products thatkeep pace with market trends. Theplant in Chester, UK, will continue tosupply the company’s Europeancustomers.

Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Dec 2003 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)

Nova BioGenetics sub-registersAnabec mould product

Nova BioGenetics has sub-registeredproducts from Anabec Inc and twoother companies with the US EPA.Anabec’s product removes strongercategories of mould and bacteria fromporous building materials that harbourthese strains. Materials can actuallybe cleaned and sealed with Anabec’spatented dyne penetrating surfactantused with an EPA registeredantimicrobial shield.

Press release from: Nova BioGenetics Inc, 8383,Dunwoody Place, Building #3, Atlanta, GA 30350, USA.Tel: +1 770 650 6508. Fax: +1 770 650 0411. Website:http://www.novabiogenetics.com (19 Dec 2003)

FEBRUARY 2004 7

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S