Coty narrows US fragrance gap amid FY26 growth push
After trailing the broader prestige fragrance market earlier this year, Coty says it has now caught up. “We closed the gap between Coty’s US prestige fragrance sell-out and the overall market, from an ~5-point gap in Q4 FY25 to full alignment in Q1 FY26,” the company said during its earnings call.
This shift is significant for fragrance suppliers and manufacturers who are closely watching demand trends. Coty also expects to see growth in the category next quarter, adding that “positive sales growth [is] expected in Q2.”
Kimberly-Clark to acquire Kenvue in $48.7B deal
By combining operations, Kimberly-Clark reported that the deal is expected to deliver $2.1 billion in combined annual efficiencies, including $1.9 billion in cost savings, which are forecast to be realized over a four-year period, with roughly $2.5 billion in one-time costs to achieve them.
Larry Merlo, Chair of Kenvue’s Board of Directors, said in the companies’ joint release that the deal followed a thorough strategic review. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Kimberly-Clark that delivers significant upfront value for our shareholders and substantial upside potential through ownership in the combined company,” he said.
Univar’s Brazil deal fortifies sun care innovation pipeline
Univar Solutions has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with India-based Best Value Chem, expanding access to the BVSUN line of UV filters for personal care manufacturers across Brazil.
“Brazil serves as a strategic hub for Latin America,” James Peterson, global vice president of CARE, Ingredients + Specialties at Univar Solutions, told CosmeticsDesign. “This partnership enhances Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions’ market offering for advanced UV protection solutions.”
The exclusive agreement grants Univar Solutions the rights to distribute Best Value Chem’s UV filters, including BVSUN, a broad-spectrum defense designed for facial and body care applications.
Fragrance, France & digital shopping: what’s behind Estée Lauder Companies’ revival?
Within the past year, Estée Lauder Companies has focused on stabilising its business through cost restructuring and supply chain optimisation. Less than one year ago, the company launched its Beauty Reimagined strategy, which appears to be paying off.
While de la Faverie celebrated the company’s turnaround, he added that “While the macroeconomic environment globally continues to be dynamic with a variety of headwinds and tailwinds, we remain vigilant and focused on achieving our ambition for Beauty Reimagined.”
Puig sees fragrance sales slow down in Q3
Marc Puig acknowledged that fragrance growth slowed in Q3, as sales for its fashion and fragrance sector were only up by 2.8% like-for-like, compared to an impressive 11.1% growth in Q3 2024.
Puig expressed concerns that if the trend continues, it may impact future revenue.
Despite this slowdown, Puig said he remained confident in the category’s resilience and emphasised that fragrance is still the largest segment, accounting for 73% of Puig’s revenue.
Ulta Beauty launches UB Marketplace
Ulta Beauty has officially launched UB Marketplace, a curated third-party platform integrated into ulta.com and the Ulta Beauty app, designed to expand the retailer’s reach across beauty, wellness and adjacent lifestyle categories.
The move is part of the company’s Ulta Beauty Unleashed strategy and is powered by French cloud-based e-commerce software company Mirakl.
