Durex firm sees strong sales after key acquisitions

SSL International, the firm behind products as diverse as Durex condoms and Scholl footware, yesterday highlighted strong sales of its key brands and the benefit of recent acquisitions.

The group's underlying sales have risen 4 per cent in the year to March, helped by growth in both developed and emerging markets.

Despite more difficult markets in the UK and Italy, Durex performed very strongly in China, Poland and Germany, while Scholl footcare products saw "solid growth" in France and Thailand.

Total sales for the year were up 22 per cent.

This was mainly thanks to a 120 million contribution from the acquisitions of BLBV and Gainbridge, which sell condoms in Ukraine and Russia under the Contex brand.

Sales of SSL's branded goods reached 630m over the year, while the firm said it remained confident of meeting earnings targets by 2012.