Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth, excluding the pharmaceuticals division, was slightly ahead of expectations at household goods giant Reckitt Benckiser in the first quarter of 2012.
Net revenue rose 3%, or 4% at constant exchange rates, to £2,357m, some way ahead of market expectations of £2,180m. LFL sales, excluding Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals (RBP), was 4%, versus expectations of a year-on-year increase of 3.8%.
"High quality, volume led LFL growth of 4% was driven by continued excellent performance in Emerging Market Areas and the success of innovations like Veet Easy Wax Roll-On and the Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System," said Rakesh Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt Beckiser.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
RB Pharmaceuticals saw revenue increase by 7% (+6% at constant exchange rates) to £167m. Good market growth in the US was not fully reflected in the net revenue growth, Reckitt said, due to dilution from continued strong film penetration and Medicaid rebates which are now being accrued at the new higher levels.
"RBP continues to make very good progress with the patient preferred Suboxone
sublingual film now at 53% market volume share, up from 48% at the end of 2011," Kapoor said.
The Cillit Bang maker reiterated its full year target of like-for-like net revenue growth, excluding RBP, of two percentage points above the market growth rate of 1-2%. "We also expect to maintain full year operating margins [excluding RBP]," the group said.
JH
-
Ofgem proposes new energy tariffs with low or no standing changesStanding charges have invited public backlash as households battle high energy bills
-
Google shares bounce on Gemini 2.0 launchGoogle has launched the latest version of its Gemini AI platform, and markets have responded positively. Is it time to buy Google shares?
