Cussons scrubs up well at £37 million

Imperial Leather and Carex soaps maker PZ Cussons is still cleaning up despite the global downturn.

Pre-tax profits at the consumer products group climbed 13.5% to £36.9 million in the six months to 30 November, thanks to strong demand for its new Imperial Leather Skin Bliss shower gel, and to favourable currency movements.

"I wouldn't say we are completely recession-proof, but people are carrying on washing," finance director Brandon Leigh said today. He added that the Sanctuary Spa range had sold particularly well over Christmas as customers bought Sanctuary products in place of more expensive bodycare gift sets.

Cussons said its performance in Africa, where it makes almost half its total revenues, has been particularly pleasing as the continent has been less severely affected by the credit crunch than the rest of the world.

Cussons, which bought the Sanctuary Spa in Covent Garden last year, is not ruling out making further acquisitions this year.

Shares in the group rose 11/2p to 163p as it upped its dividend by 10% to 1.185p.