2005 Year in Review

A trip down memory lane.

By Leah Genuario, Editor

It’s almost time to ring in a new year. But before the ball drops, take a trip down memory lane. Following is a list of some of the headlines impacting the beauty packaging industry over the last year:

January/February

Chanel voted Top Company of the Year
Voted on by Cosmetic Packaging & Design readers, Chanel was chosen as the winner of our Company of the Year: Excellence in Packaging award. After 84 years, Chanel is still the epitome of “classic” luxury that is prestigious but never stuffy. The company continues to maintain a tradition of simple elegance delivered with the highest quality.

Brestle Appointed COO of ELC
Dan Brestle was appointed chief operating officer of The Estée Lauder Companies. He replaced William Lauder, who serves as president and chief executive.

Huggies Bath & Body
Products Launched
Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark announced the launch of a major extension of its Huggies brand with the debut of a complete line of Huggies Bath & Body Products. Leading the line was Huggies Liquid Powder that goes on baby’s skin as a liquid and dries as a powder.

March

P&G Announces Acquisition
The Procter & Gamble Company announced a $57 billion deal to acquire The Gillette Company.

Unilever Ends Co-CEO System
Unilever, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, announced it would abolish its two chief executive structure after reporting falling sales and a net loss in its fiscal 2004 fourth quarter. Patrick Cescau continued on as chief executive; Antony Burgmans was moved to another position.

April

The Fragrance Foundation
Bestows FiFi Awards
The Fragrance Foundation acknowledged the accomplishments and creative achievements in the fragrance industry by honoring fragrance products in 14 different categories.In the packaging category, the awards went to: Men’s Popular Appeal: Spirit Antonio Banderas — PUIG Fragrances & Personal Care, Inc.; Men’s Prestige: L’Eau Bleue D’Issey Pour Homme — Beauté Prestige International; Women’s Popular Appeal: the healing garden in bloom — Coty Beauty US; Women’s Prestige: Shanghai — Horizon Beauty/Gary Farn, Ltd.
CEW Names The Best in Beauty
Cosmetic Executive Women honored the best new products of the year at its 11th Annual Beauty Awards. The awards spanned 25 categories and were divided by price points.

Estée Lauder Forms Alliance With Tom Ford
The Estée Lauder brand announced a collaboration with fashion designer Tom Ford. The alliance with Ford marks the first time that the brand has partnered with an outside fashion designer.

May

Six Packaging Executives
Enter the NJPEC Hall of Fame
The third annual induction of honorees to the New Jersey Packaging Executives Club Hall of Fame was held in May. More than 200 packaging industry executives gathered to congratulate the six 2005 inductees: Joe Norton of O. Berk Company for purchasing; Gary Korba of Estée Lauder Companies and MG New York for package development; Holly Young of Hirschhorn & Young for entrepreneur; Peter DeGaetano of Topline Products Company for sales; and for lifetime achievement both Bruce Doll and Paul McDonald.

June

Baker Resigns from Limited Brands
Sherry Baker resigned as president of Victoria’s Secret Beauty after six years. Jill Granoff and Christine Beauchamp took on her duties in a co-president structure.

July/August

L’Oréal USA Welcomes New President
Laurent Attal took over for Jean-Paul Agon as president and chief executive of L’Oréal USA in July.
“Enthusiastic, energetic and a great communicator, Laurent Attal is a formidable manager and a great team leader,” said Lindsay Owen-Jones, chairman and chief executive officer of L’Oréal. “I have no doubt that he will use these exceptional talents to take L’Oréal USA to new heights in the years to come.”

September

Colgate-Palmolive President Retires
Colgate-Palmolive’s long-serving president, William Shanahan, retired on Sept. 30. Ian Cook was elected as the next president.

October/November

Coty Purchases Unilever
Prestige Fragrance Business
Unilever announced the completion of the sale of its prestige fragrance business, Unilever Cosmetics International (UCI), to Coty Inc. Unilever received $800 million in cash, in line with the terms of the agreement announced on May 20, 2005, with the opportunity for further deferred payments contingent upon future sales.