Shaving Products Bolster Gillette Sales

The Gillette Co. announced a 23 percent increase in profits for the first quarter, citing strong sales of its Mach3 and Venus shaving products. According to a report in The Washington Post, these items account for more than a third of consumer sales in the shaving.

• Gillette, trying to revitalize its battery line, reported Duracell sales fell to $332 million, down three percent from a year ago.
  
• Gillette reported $53 million in profits in its oral care segment, up six percent compared to last year. The company credited in part the successful rollout of its Oral-B battery toothbrush.
  
• Profits of $3 million in the Braun electric shaving products were down 82 percent from last year.

Moderator Comment: How does Gillette stack up as a partner/category captain for retailers when compared to other CPG companies?

New products and technological innovation has always driven Gillette’s success. The company may have stumbled somewhat in the past few years (at least as far as Wall St. was concerned) but appears to have righted the ship. [George
Anderson – Moderator]

• Gillette Posts 23 Percent Profit – The Washington Post