Avon Products, Inc., has reported a rise in sales of lipstick and bath products in Europe and China. The increase was the largest in nearly nine years. Sales rose by almost 44% in China. The company also reported a 30% rise in its sales in Turkey. Net income more than doubled compared with last year's data. The company's increase in sales is being attributed to good advertising and effective introduction to new areas as well as hiring more representatives. Avon is a leading direct seller of beauty products with sales representatives across the globe.
Wrigley's posts profit
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company brought in nearly $1.26 billion in first-quarter sales. This reflects an increase of 17% compared with figures for the same period last year. The company saw a growth of nearly 12% in shipments worldwide; this is viewed as one of the reasons for the increase in profits. Shipments increased most significantly in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Other factors to which the rise in profits is being attributed include the launch of new products and strong performance by the company's other worldwide brands.
Yum! Brands' international sales are up
Yum! Brands, Inc., the company that operates KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, reported a rise of 14% in first-quarter profits brought on by strong international sales. Sales declined in the U.S. as a result of an E.coli outbreak in a Taco Bell restaurant last year that caused nearly 70 people to fall ill. This was compounded by news of a rat infestation at a KFC restaurant in New York. However, the company reported an increase of nearly 31% in operating profits in China and 25% in other overseas markets, which counteracted the negative factors.
Blyth sells assets of its fragrance business
Blyth, Inc., (NYSE:BTH), a company that produces and markets home décor and home fragrance products, has sold assets of its mass-channel home-fragrance business. Blyth HomeScents International-North America (BHI) has been sold to MVP, Inc., a producer of private-label candles and fragrance items. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The sale included a Tennessee-based distribution plant and Blyth's Arkansas operations. The company will now concentrate on its premium wholesale business and direct-to-customer channels. Blyth recently underwent restructuring and has made significant progress toward reducing overhead.
Quintek reports increase in pre-released revenues
Quintek Technologies, Inc., has announced that its revenues increased by 49% in the first quarter of 2007. The company, an international provider of business process outsourcing, attributes its growth to new customers. Its pre-released revenues for the quarter ending on March 31, 2007, totaled $594,064, while revenues for the quarter ending on December 31, 2006, were $397,283. The company also recently boosted its sales and marketing efforts.
