Sara Lee Household and Body Care - Competitors

Sara Lee Household and Body Care Competition

Now Viewing Sara Lee Household and Body Care's competition in: Soap and Detergent Manufacture (primary)

Recent Developments

Oil Prices Continue Rise - Prices of many petroleum-based raw materials used in soap and detergent manufacture are likely to increase as oil prices continue rising. The spot price of West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) averaged $105.45 in March 2008, up 74 percent from a year earlier. WTI prices are projected to average about $101 per barrel in 2008, then fall to $92.50 in 2009.

Study Shows More Germs in Home Offices - Increased sales of disinfectant wipes and other cleaning products could result if telecommuters become aware that home desktops harbor germs. A recent study by the University of Arizona, and paid for by The Clorox Company, concludes that home office desktops have bacteria levels more than four times higher than those of traditional office desktops. The study suggests that home offices might have more germs because people assume that their homes are clean or don't worry about their own germs, which can also cause illness.

Ecolab Buoyed by Sales in Asia, Latin America - Cleaning and sanitation product manufacturer Ecolab reports a 17 percent increase in profits for first quarter 2008. The company says that a strong performance by its US institutional, food and beverage, healthcare, and pest elimination divisions were aided by robust sales in Asia and Latin America, which grew 8 percent. Ecolab expects continued growth in 2008 despite slower consumer spending and higher costs for raw materials.

Competitive Landscape

Population growth, particularly households with children, drives demand in the consumer sector, while economic growth drives demand in the commercial sector. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and effective sales and marketing. Large companies have scale advantages in purchasing, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering specialized products, providing superior customer service, or serving a local market. The industry is capital-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is over $700,000.

Full Industry Overview For Soap and Detergent Manufacture

Soap and Detergent Manufacture Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US soap and cleaner manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 3.1 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Soap and Detergent Manufacturing Growth Peaks

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.