L'Oreal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's leading general cosmetics company, with subsidiaries specializing in make-up, skin care, hair care, hair coloring, and perfume.
Business
L'Oréal is headquartered in France. Its Chairman and CEO is Lindsay Owen-Jones, since 1988.
The company announced its 18th consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2002, with an annual turnover of €14.3 billion. In 2003, Western Europe accounted for 52.7% of the Group's sales (nearly 20% in France), with North America accounting for another 27.6%. According to 2004 figures, L'Oréal has operations in over 130 countries, employing 50,500 people, 24% of which work in France. 3% of its yearly turnover is used to fund Research and Development, which accounts for 2,900 of its employees. It operates 42 manufacturing plants throughout the world, which employ 14,000 people.
L'Oréal's stock is part of the CAC 40 stock market index. The company is owned by an international holding company named Gesparal, which holds a controlling 53.7% stake. Billionare heiress Liliane Bettencourt, daughter of L'Oréal's founder Eugène Schueller, holds a controlling 51% stake in Gesparal, which gives her about 27.5% ownership of L'Oréal. Nestlé owns 49% of Gesparal, giving it 26.4% ownership of the cosmetics giant. The L'Oréal stocks not owned by Gesparal are publically traded.
History
L'Oréal was started in 1907 when Eugène Schueller developed an innovative hair-color formula called "Auréole". Schueller formulated and manufactured his own products which he then sold to Parisian hairdressers. His small company grew into a cosmetics dynasty, and when he died in 1957 it passed to his daughter Liliane Bettencourt.
Brands
Brands include:
- L'Oréal Paris
- L'Oréal Professional
- L'Oréal Kids
- L'Oréal Hair Science
- L'Oréal HydraFresh
- BioMedic
- Biotherm
- Createurs De Beaute
- Galderma
- Garnier
- Giorgio Armani Parfums
- Helena Rubinstein
- Kerastase
- Kiehl's
- La Roche-Posay
- Lancôme
- Laboratoires Vichy
- Matrix Essentials
- Maybelline
- Ombrelle
- Parfums Cacharel
- Ralph Lauren Fragrances
- Redken 5th Ave NYC
- Shu Uemura
- SoftSheen-Carson
Miscellaneous
One of L'Oréal's advertising slogans is "Because you're worth it". This slogan has replaced the former "Because I'm worth it".
