Nivea owner steals march on rivals as sales surge

Long-lasting Nivea body milk and other new products helped German skin care group Beiersdorf beat quarterly sales forecasts and raise its full-year target.

Third quarter figures from the German consumer goods company contrasted with weaker-than-expected quarterly sales at rival Unilever, whose Dove products compete with Nivea, as well as the UK’s Reckitt Benckiser.

“After being off the radar for most of the year, we believe these strong numbers will make the market sit up and take notice,” said Morgan Stanley analysts.