Alberto-Culver reports Q1 sales

MELROSE, Ill. Alberto-Culver, whose brands include TRESemme, St Ives, Nexxus and Noxzema, announced on Monday that net sales rose 2.9% during the first quarter, with particularly strong sales growth in its international segment.

"While the hair care category remains soft, trends are slowing beginning to improve and we continue to gain market share," stated V. James Marino, president and CEO. "Sales growth was particularly strong in our international segment, even with a very strong performance in the prior-year quarter."

Net sales for the quarter rose 2.9% to $363 million. On an organic basis, which excludes the effect of foreign currently fluctuations and acquisitions and divestitures, sales were flat in the quarter.

In the United States, despite market share gains and continued growth on TRESemme, sales slipped 2.5% compared with the prior-year when sales rose 8% (including 4% growth from last year's Noxzema acquisition).

International sales increased 12.3% (foreign currency fluctuations accounted for 8.5% of the growth) behind double-digit growth on TRESemme and St Ives.

Added Carol Lavin Bernick, executive chairman, "While market conditions remain challenging, our business model continues to generate profitable growth. Our focus and consistent strategy of driving growth in our core beauty care brands is a major contributor to our success. Our December acquisition of Simple, a U.K.-based leading skin care brand, builds on that strategy, further strengthens our beauty care portfolio and creates additional growth opportunities."