Personal Care

CHICAGO — Mintel Group, a supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence, has named Katie Gross as VP beauty and personal care division for the United States and Canada, based in Chicago.

This new position will report to Jane Henderson, global president of the beauty and personal care division.

As VP America and Canada, Gross will direct the published and custom business. Her experience includes the beauty industry and consumer research. Gross rejoins Mintel from Toluna, a global online panel company.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — As rising costs eat into margins, personal care marketers are reducing marketing expenditures, integrating their supply chain and consolidating distribution for improved efficiency, according to findings of recent research from Kline & Co.

According to the research firm’s “Personal Care: U.S. Competitor Cost Structures 2011” report, costs of goods sold — which includes raw materials, packaging, processing and overhead — have increased on average to claim 11.1% of the net sales total in 2011, compared with 10.6% in 2009.

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Hain Celestial Group’s Avalon Organics skin care brand, which is sold at such retailers as Whole Foods, Target, Walmart and drug stores, has transitioned its line of personal care products to the NSF/ANSI 305 Standard for Personal Care Products Containing Organic Ingredients. With this transition, Avalon Organics also has revamped its Vitamin C Renewal, Lavender Luminosity, CoQ10 Repair and Essential Lift skin care lines.

SUPPLIER NEWS — Unilever has agreed to acquire Russian beauty company Concern Kalina, which significantly will strengthen its foothold in skin care and hair care in Russia. Unilever initially is acquiring 82% of Concern Kalina for approximately €390 million (U.S. $537 million). The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.


SUPPLIER NEWS — Unilever has announced changes to its category and go-to-market structure to further support its growth plans and allow for a more efficient rollout of increasingly bigger and more scalable innovations. The changes include several executive moves, including the appointment of Dave Lewis, president of the Americas, as president of personal care, consisting of skin, deodorants, oral and hair.


NEW YORK — Market research company Kline recently announced a series of complimentary webinars in the coming weeks around the personal care, home care and healthcare industries.

The series includes five webinars on the skin care market, cosmetics and toiletries, home fragrances, anti-aging and natural over-the-counter remedies scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from July 19 through July 27.

For more information, click here.

Stinky Boyz from Pro Athletics showcased at NACDS Marketplace its line of all-natural personal hygiene products for boys and young men. What makes these products really cool and unique is that they are shaped like sports balls. Stinky Boyz hygiene products contain essential oils and black seed, which is a strong antioxidant to help cleanse the body of toxins. The collection includes deodorant and hair and body wash in the shape of sports balls. The hair and body wash includes a silicon wrist handle for easy grip and hanging.

BOSTON — Looking to appeal to boys and young men with its innovative product design is Stinky Boyz, a line of all-natural personal hygiene products that are shaped like sports balls. Stinky Boyz hygiene products contain essential oils and black seed, a strong antioxidant that helps cleanse the body of toxins.

The collection includes hair and body wash that has a silicon wrist handle for easy grip and hanging. After the hair and body wash is gone, the handle can be used as a wristband. The collection also includes deodorant (pictured).