The scent of success at L'Orèal

STRONG growth from emerging markets helped French cosmetics giant L'Orèal push profits almost 20% higher last year, to e1.23bn (£770m).

L'Orèal is the world's biggest cosmetics maker, with brands including Lancome, Garnier, Plenitude, Vichy and Helena Rubinstein. Sales in 2001 rose by 8.4%, to e13.7bn (£860m), helped by what chief executive Lindsay Owen-Jones described as 'robust' internal growth which helped compensate for the post-11 September downturn.

Emerging markets performed well, with South Africa posting a sales gain of 27%. In China the group grew sales by 26% and in Russia 47%, taking sales there to more than e100m for the first time.

Recently-acquired cosmetics brands including Martix, Carson and Kiehl's have now been fully integrated and performed in line with expectations, with sales of e523m.