PZ Cussons has reported “robust” UK trading in the first quarter of its financial year, despite high levels of promotional activity.
Cussons Mum & Me, the new washing brand for mother and baby, gained full distribution in July, supported by an advertising campaign that kicked off in mid-August.
PZ Cussons said early sales of the brand were encouraging, adding that group performance during the three months to 18 September was in line with previous expectations.
In Nigeria, unrest in the north of the country continued to affect sales rates, with disposable income still under pressure from the partial removal of the fuel subsidy in January. However, margins improved partly as a result of lower raw material costs.
PZ Cussons said raw material cost trends across the group were expected to improve this year, meaning the was confident it would return to profitable growth across the financial year as a whole.
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