The Gillette Co. has reported record third quarter revenue of $2.69 billion, up 12% from $2.41 billion one year ago. Income rose 14% to $689 million from $604 million.
The company cited the recent spate of hurricanes for bumping up sales for its Duracell batteries in the U.S. as well as “excellent” retail and consumer demand for its products and strong interest in new offerings from its shaving, oral care and personal care businesses.
CEO and Chairman James M. Kilts singled out such marketing campaigns as “Brush Like a Dentist,” “The Best a Man Can Get” and the use of NASCAR celebrities for the “Gillette Young Guns’ of NASCAR” campaign for generating brand recognition and sales across product lines.
Blades and razors sales rose 7% to $1.11 billion; Duracell sales jumped 15% to $592 million; oral care grew 27% to $418 million; Braun sales rose 9% to $320 million and personal care sales saw a 7% increase to $253 million.
“Our momentum is strong,” Kilts said in a statement. “We look forward to very strong results for the year, which should position us for another solid year in 2005.”
For the nine months, revenue grew 11% to $7.37 billion versus $6.63 billion in 2003.
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