Church and Dwight experiences growth in Q1 2013

Church and Dwight has published its financial results for the first quarter of 2013, during which it generated a net sales total of $779.3 million (503.67 million pounds).

This represents a year-on-year increase of 12.8 percent – or two percent on an organic basis – while earnings per share rose by 15.2 percent to $0.76.

During the quarter, the firm successfully introduced a new Trojan lubricant range and the Arm and Hammer Ultra Power liquid laundry detergent product, building on the launch of the Spinbrush Tooth Tunes toothbrush and the Orajel single dose cold sore treatment at the end of 2012.

Moreover, a deal was agreed in April with Futura Medical for the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of CSD500, a new contraceptive product.

James Craigie, chairman and chief executive officer of Church and Dwight, said: "We continue to expect 2013 organic net sales growth to be in the three to four percent range. Gross margin is now expected to increase by approximately 25 to 50 basis points for the year."

The company also announced that its board of directors approved its 449th regular quarterly dividend last week.