The Consumer Business Segment increased organic sales by 4.9%. In
nominal terms, sales rose by 7.5% to €5,048 million (previous year:
€4,696 million). Our three core brands – NIVEA, Eucerin, and La Prairie –
showed an encouraging performance.
The Consumer Business Segment recorded slight growth in Europe. Sales
of the NIVEA core brand in Germany were on a level with the previous
year. Sales in Western Europe (excluding Germany) were down on the prior
year, as expected. Alongside the streamlining of our product range in
2011, the effects of the weak economy and the associated deterioration
in consumer climate in particular were felt across large parts of
Europe. The company generated strong sales growth in Eastern Europe, in
particular in Russia and Poland.
Sales in Latin America developed well – mainly in Brazil. Beiersdorf
also recorded strong growth in the Africa/Asia/Australia region. Sales
in China were on a level with the previous year, in line with planning.