Carex and Imperial Leather maker PZ Cussons has recorded a jump in sales and profits after making cost savings and investing more in marketing campaigns.
The Manchester-based consumer goods business said revenues totalled £541 million for the year to the end of May, up 5.8% compared like-for-like with the previous year.
Sales growth was driven mainly by pricing strategies, while the volume of sales also edged higher.
In the UK, washing and bathing brands Carex, Imperial Leather, Original Source and Sanctuary Spa were driving growth, particularly following a successful Christmas gifting period.
It highlighted brand-building partnerships such as the use of The Gruffalo and Zog animated characters on Carex handwash, and Original Source bodywash sponsoring a London Hyrox event and partnering with celebrity ambassador Spencer Matthews.
This helped offset a decline in sales for smaller brands such as haircare line Charles Worthington and self-tanning label St Tropez.
PZ Cussons has said its investment into marketing increased by £3.5 million during the year, which was the most it had spent in recent years.
It has also trialled live-streaming shopping in markets like Indonesia, while St Tropez was recently launched on TikTok Shop in the UK.
Meanwhile, the company said it had trimmed down its portfolio during the past year to strengthen its balance sheet and sharpen its focus on its bestselling categories of personal, home and baby care.
This included exiting its stake in a Nigerian joint venture, selling off a number of assets in Africa and Asia, closing its offices in the US, and shutting the Childs Farm office in the UK after bringing it into the wider business.
“We have also simplified or streamlined a number of business processes through the use of AI tools and data analytics,” the company said.
The cost-cutting helped increase PZ Cussons’s pre-tax profit to £50 million, up 22% year-on-year.
Chief executive Jonathan Myers said: “We delivered a strong trading performance in FY26 (the 2026 financial year), with revenue growth across each of our four lead markets and each of our top 10 brands.
“At the same time, we completed our strategic review and established a refreshed strategy with a clearer financial framework and capital allocation policy.”
He said it was a “more focused and resilient business”, adding: “While there is plenty more to do, and we are mindful of macro-economic uncertainties, we are well placed to continue delivering sustainable growth.”
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