PZ Cussons retains Africa business

Consumer goods business PZ Cussons, yesterday, announced that it is retaining its Africa business and has now set out ambitious growth plans to build a winning portfolio of locally-loved brands, building on the improved momentum achieved in recent years.

The growth plans will be delivered through three key pillars: Core growth, Revenue Growth Management, and Category expansion.

The first pillar will focus on growing the company’s core business in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana through consistently delivering best-in-class fundamentals of brand-building, distribution expansion, Revenue Growth Management, in-store execution and use of digital.

PZ Cussons said these factors, including the fact that the Nigerian business has, since FY22, more than doubled the number of stores which it serves directly, have been major contributors to the business’ growth in recent years.

The other pillars are Category expansion: expansion into new category adjacencies, including a focus on Men’s Grooming and Beauty, with the existing brands of Venus, Imperial Leather and Premier; Pan-Africa growth: expansion in other African markets which will be served from the existing footprint in Nigeria and Kenya.

In April 2024, PZ Cussons announced plans to conduct a strategic review of its Africa operations. As part of the review, the Group announced the sale of its 50 per cent equity interest in PZ Wilmar Limited, its non-core edible oils business in Nigeria, to Wilmar International Limited, its Joint Venture partner for a total consideration of $70 million.

The Group received significant levels of interest from a number of parties regarding the wider Africa portfolio.

The Board has, however, concluded that the greatest value for shareholders will be created by retaining the business and building a Group portfolio balanced between its developed markets of United Kingdom and Australia/New Zealand and its emerging markets of Indonesia and Nigeria.

The strategy is based on the significant long-term opportunity in Africa where population is forecast to grow by more than 900 million over the next 25 years, representing over half of total global population growth.

Nigeria’s population alone is forecast to increase by over 100 million further benefitting from urbanisation and rapidly growing middle classes.

“Recent economic and currency trends have been more favourable, supporting double-digit revenue growth in our Africa business in the first half of the financial year.

“The Board is confident that PZ Cussons is well placed to succeed through leveraging local insights and its brand heritage.

“The business will continue to benefit from its scale in manufacturing and route-to-market expertise, particularly against a competitive landscape which has seen a number of multi-nationals exit the market in recent years.

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“Nearly 80 per cent of Nigeria revenue is generated from brands holding #1 or #2 positions in their categories,” the Group said, in a statement which was made available to The Nation, on Thursday.

 Africa generated £141 million of revenue and £16 million of adjusted operating profit in FY25, representing 27 per cent and 30 per cent of the Group, respectively.

Following the sale of its 50 per cent stake in PZ Wilmar, the Group’s Africa business comprises Family Care and Electricals businesses in Nigeria, and Family Care businesses in Ghana and Kenya. The Group holds a 73.3 per cent stake in PZ Cussons Nigeria plc.

Headquartered in Manchester, UK., PZ Cussons is a listed consumer goods business that employs about 2,500 people, with operations in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and North America.

Since its founding in 1884, the company has been creating products to delight, care for and nourish consumers.

Across its core categories of Hygiene, Baby and Beauty, PZ Cussons’ trusted and well-loved brands include Carex, Childs Farm, Cussons Baby, Imperial Leather, Morning Fresh, Original Source, Premier, Sanctuary Spa and St. Tropez.