Innovation helps PZ Cussons to stay on track

PZ CUSSONS, the company behind the Imperial Leather, Sanctuary and Carex brands, said innovation is helping to keep its performance on target.

In a trading update for the year to May 31 the Manchester-based group said its full-year figures, due out next month, will be in line with market expectations.

The group said “an excellent pipeline of innovation” had helped it to achieve strong profitable growth in the UK despite a worsening consumer outlook.

Operations in Poland have also performed well but the economic turmoil in Greece has caused “difficult trading”.

Cussons saw a strong performance in Australia, Indonesia and the Middle East thanks to favourable market conditions and what it describes as, “brand renovation”.

In Nigeria the group has invested £39m in new manufacturing facilities and improving the supply chain. It expects this work to be completed in the next few months.

The group’s balance sheet remains healthy following strong cash generation during the period. PZ Cussons will announce its full-year figures on July 27.