Cosmetics is proving to be one of the growth areas for the German major consumer products group Henkel as it announces job cuts worldwide of about 3000 in the period to 2011. Henkel says that increasing competitive pressure and rising raw materials costs as well as the financing of recent large acquisitions has forced it to launch its programme of cutbacks.
The move follows an earlier economy drive in 2004 which saw 2500 jobs disappear.
However, in 2007 rising demand for cosmetic products as well as other items including adhesives and washing products helped push operating earnings from €1.2bn to €1.3bn. Sales rose from €12.7bn to just over €13bn.