The German consumer goods maker Henkel AG reported a fall in Q1 sales of 0.8 percent while warning that its original outlook for 2020 could no longer be relied upon. The company ended the quarter with €4.9bn in sales, slightly off the pace, but unremarkable considering the rather remarkable environment. Its Adhesive Technologies division was the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, as it relies primarily on the automotive industry for sales. Branded Consumer Goods sales were flat, compared to 2019, spurred on by the furious sale of laundry detergents and household cleaners. Beauty Care sales fell as a direct result of the closure of hairdressers across Europe, but the company’s Laundry & Home Care departent managed strong growth.
