Organic sales in the beauty segment rose by three percent compared to last year. Skin and personal care sales dipped slightly due to decreased sales of the high-end SK-II brand, but were partly balanced by increased volume from new products in personal care. Hair care sales saw a significant increase, driven by higher prices in Latin America, Europe, and North America.
In the grooming segment, organic sales grew by ten percent year-on-year, primarily due to increased pricing in Latin America and Europe, although this was somewhat offset by an unfavorable product mix.
Healthcare segment organic sales increased by two percent compared to last year. Oral care sales grew moderately due to a shift towards premium products, although this was mitigated by volume declines in Asia Pacific and North America. Personal healthcare sales saw a slight increase driven by higher pricing, although this was partially offset by decreased volume due to fewer instances of coughs and colds.
Organic sales in the Fabric and Home Care segment saw a three percent increase compared to last year. Fabric Care sales experienced a slight uptick, driven by higher prices and a favorable geographic mix with growth in North America and Europe. Home Care sales surged significantly, propelled by both increased pricing and volume growth from new innovations.
In the Baby, Feminine, and Family Care segment, organic sales remained unchanged from the previous year. Baby Care sales decreased moderately due to volume declines resulting from pricing adjustments, though this was partly balanced by a favorable product mix and price increases due to currency devaluation. Feminine Care sales saw a slight increase, primarily due to higher pricing and a favorable product mix, despite volume declines related to pricing adjustments. Family Care sales also increased slightly, mainly due to volume growth, although this was partly offset by an unfavorable product mix.
“We delivered solid sales and strong earnings growth in the third quarter despite multiple headwinds, enabling us to raise our EPS growth guidance and maintain our top-line outlook for the fiscal year,” said Jon Moeller, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We remain committed to our integrated strategy of a focused product portfolio of daily use categories where performance drives brand choice, superiority — across product performance, packaging, brand communication, retail execution and consumer and customer value — productivity, constructive disruption and an agile and accountable organization. We are increasing investments in superiority to drive market growth and sustain strong momentum. We have confidence this remains the right strategy to deliver balanced growth and value creation.”
