Henkel Central Eastern Europe (Henkel CEE) increased its 2008 revenues by 13 percent, to 2,500 million euros. Henkel CEE will continue to invest heavily in the region in 2009 despite the cyclical downturn and currency turbulences. “We have confidence in the long-term growth perspectives of Central and Eastern Europe”, says Günter Thumser, President of Henkel CEE. Accordingly, the company will invest 30 million euros in existing production facilities for detergents and cleansers. Moreover, preparations are underway for the construction of three new Henkel Bautechnik manufacturing plants in Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic States.

The renewed investments relate to Henkel brands and their innovative strength. In 2009, Henkel CEE plans to carry out some 400 market research studies (“local insights”) in the CEE region alone on behalf of its detergents and cleansers. “We are relying on our strong, innovative brands, which consumers can trust and which take the pressure off them in economically uncertain times”, Günter Thumser adds.

The Laundry & Home Care segment of Henkel CEE accounted for close to 44 percent of its total revenues in 2008, whereas about 43 percent of revenues can be attributed to the Adhesive Technologies segment, and almost 13 percent to the Cosmetics & Toiletries business. The company achieved double-digit growth in all business areas. Henkel CEE, which is responsible for coordinating the business operations of the global Henkel Group in 32 countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia, including Turkey, employed a work force of 10,200 people in 2008, of which 900 employees worked at Henkel CEE headquarters in Vienna.

Russia generated the highest revenues of any individual market, with a 21.2 percent share of total Henkel CEE revenues, following by Poland (13.8 percent), Turkey (10.9 percent), Ukraine (8.4 percent) and Austria (8.1 percent). “We achieved the largest growth rates in Russia (+28 percent), Ukraine (+ 26 percent) and Bulgaria (+ 20 percent).”

Henkel Central Eastern Europe (Henkel CEE) at a glance
Henkel CEE has management responsibility for coordinating business operations in 32 countries: Austria, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Henkel CEE is a strong number two in the detergents segment in Central and Eastern Europe, and the market leader in the adhesives and hair cosmetics segments. The most well-known Henkel brands in the region include Ceresit, Fa, Loctite, Pattex, Persil and Schwarzkopf.

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas – Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies. Henkel, which ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies, achieves more than 60 percent of its sales with consumer brands. Business with industrial customers accounts for close to 40 percent of sales. In fiscal 2008, Henkel generated sales of 14.13 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 1,460 million euros. Our more than 55,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust the innovative brands and technologies from Henkel.