Church and Dwight reports strong financial results for 2013

Church and Dwight has announced its financial results for the 2013 business year, during which its net sales rose by 9.3 percent year on year to $3.2 billion (1.96 billion pounds).

In the last 12 months, the company has been able to increase market share for six of its nine power brands, despite the weak performance of the key US market. Its fourth-quarter performance was particularly strong, with earnings rising by 14 percent year on year.

Based on its success during 2013, Church and Dwight expects to achieve a further organic sales increase of three to four percent during 2014, which will be driven in part by the rollout of various new products.

These will include new additions to the Oxiclean, Arm and Hammer, Vitafusion and Trojan brands.

James Craigie, the firm's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "2014 will be an exciting year for Church and Dwight as we launch innovative new products on all of our major brands and expand some of our mega brands into new categories."

The firm also recently announced plans to add a new production line at its facility in Pennsylvania in order to expand its gummy vitamin manufacturing capacity. This construction work began last month and will be concluded during the first quarter of 2015.