14. Groupe Yves Rocher

France

www.groupe-yvesrocher.com

Beauty Sales: $3 billion

Key Personnel: Bris Rocher, chairman and chief executive officer.

Major Products: Skin care and cosmetic brands including Yves Rocher, Dr Pierre Ricaud, Daniel Jouvance, Kiotis, ID Parfums Paris, Flomar.

New Products: Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream, Anti-Wrinkle Night Care, Ultra Long Lasting Crème Eye Shadow-Waterproof, Red Berries Smoothie Eau de Toilette, Flowerparty by Night Yves Rocher.

Flower Party by Night, from Yves Rocher, tells an instant botanical story through its cap.

Comments: While an international company, the Yves Rocher Group is still family run, today, by the founder’s eldest grandson Bris Rocher. Yves Rocher’s organic, plant-based beauty products are still manufactured in La Gacilly, in the Britttany region of France where the public can visit the company’s botanical gardens. A 2010 poll showed that one out of three French women are customers of the brand. But others have been won over: It now serves more than 40 million customers in more than 20 countries throughout the world. About 36% of distribution is in France, followed by Western Europe (34%); Eastern Europe (15%); and others (15%). Distribution is by mail order, direct selling and in-store sales. The top 10 markets for Yves Rocher are France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Venezuela, Mexico, Belgium, Spain, Scandinavia and U.S./Canada.

Sales for 2012 topped $3 billion, up from about $2.8 in the previous year. The Yves Rocher brand accounts for almost two thirds of the Group’s sales.
Bris Rocher bought back 19.3% of Yves Rocher from French pharmaceuticals company Sanofi in 2012.

According to a report from Euromonitor, in France, the botanicals beauty company share of market is second only to L’Oréal’s.

The company has long been involved in environmental causes and, as part of a United Nations Environment Program, Yves Rocher has committed to planting 50 million trees before the end of 2015. They are now offering customers a way to join the cause. If they buy one of a list of products specified, the company will plant a tree on their behalf.