Core Reckitt Benckiser brands such as Dettol, Durex and Lemsip helped the consumer goods giant to a “solid start” this year, it has reported.
Group like-for-like revenues grew 1.1% to £3,684m in the first quarter of 2025, while the combined global like-for-like of core brands rose 3.1% to £2,644m – “driven by germ protection (+7.5%) and intimate wellness (+16.6%)”, according to Q1 results to 31 March 2025. Reckitt’s core brands also registered a 0.3% increase in volume sales, “driven by strong performance in emerging markets”.
Sustained market leadership of Durex worldwide and “the continued strong online momentum” in China for feminine hygiene brand Intima helped Reckitt’s intimate wellness offer outperform the market.
The British supplier also pointed to “enhanced sustainable growth” delivered by homecare innovation such as Lysol Laundry Sanitizer and Lysol Air Sanitizer in North America.
Across Europe, which accounted for 34% of core Reckitt sales in Q1, like-for-like revenues dipped 1.7% to £898m and volumes fell 4.7%, due to the lapping of “phasing of shipments in the prior year”.
The company’s self-care portfolio declined mid-single digits in Europe against a strong prior year comparison that had benefited from significant inventory restocking. Germ protection delivered mid-single digit growth, driven by strong execution across markets including Italy and Germany. And intimate wellness grew low single digits, with strong share gains in Durex across markets and a strong start to the rollout of new Durex Intensity condoms.
Reckitt was maintaining its outlook for the full year, it said. “We are targeting +3% to +4% LFL net revenue growth in core Reckitt, with a balanced delivery across H1 and H2.”
The group was “closely monitoring the evolving situation around global tariffs and the potential impacts on our supply chain and cost base”, it added.
Reckitt CEO Kris Licht hailed “a solid first quarter driven by core Reckitt, with continued strong growth in emerging markets”.
The company continued “to execute against our strategy to make Reckitt a more efficient, world-class consumer health and hygiene company, driven by increased investment, innovation and our Fuel for Growth programme”, he said.
“Our portfolio of high-growth, high-margin power brands underpins our resilience, and we maintain our outlook for full year 2025, whilst recognising the more challenging macroeconomic outlook.”
On 6 March, Reckitt’s share price fell 2% in early trading after its full-year results fell short of analysts’ expectations. The company saw operating profit slump 4.2% to £2.4m for the year to 31 December 2024, markedly less than analysts’ consensus forecast of £3.3bn.
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