Essity reports a ‘solid performance’ in Q1 2025

Essity, a leading global hygiene and health company whose brands include TENA, Tork, Cushelle, and Bodyform, has published its interim report for Q1 2025, citing a solid performance with higher sales and a strong cash flow.

Magnus Groth, President and CEO commented: “Essity began the year with positive organic sales growth in all business areas, stable profitability and continued strong cash flow. In these turbulent times, Essity’s strength becomes clear – with production close to our customers and consumers, we deliver leading hygiene and health solutions that are needed every day.

Higher sales and a strong product portfolio 

“All business areas reported positive organic sales growth for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Growth was primarily driven by higher prices. In Health & Medical and Consumer Goods, volumes were higher, while volumes were lower in Professional Hygiene, mainly due to lower demand in North America.

“During the quarter, we achieved product superiority of above 70 per cent, meaning that customers and consumers rate Essity’s products as the best in the market for more than 70 per cent of the company’s offerings. This is the highest percentage to date and the increase is the result of our latest product launches.

Stable profitability and strong cash flow

“Earnings (EBITA excl. IAC) were slightly lower, mainly due to the higher cost of goods sold while higher sales prices increased earnings. EBITA margin excl. IAC was lower compared with the first quarter of 2024 but higher compared with the fourth quarter. Cash flow continued to develop strongly, mainly due to the robust earnings, and the company’s financial position is good.

New share buyback program

“The share buyback program that began in June 2024 was completed during the quarter, resulting in approximately 10 million shares being repurchased for SEK 3bn. The Annual General Meeting in March 2025 resolved to cancel own shares, which also took place after the end of the first quarter. The aim is to continue buying back shares as a recurring part of Essity’s capital allocation, and on 23 April the Board of Directors resolved on a new SEK 3bn program, beginning on 24 April 2025.

Limited impact from trade tariffs

“Essity has sales in approximately 150 countries, but we expect that the changed trade tariffs will only have a limited impact on the company. Our production is close to our customers and consumers, with approximately 70 production facilities worldwide. For the parts of our operations that are nonetheless affected, we are reviewing our flows and actively striving to optimise our production and supply chain.

Looking ahead 

“We remain committed to our ambition to accelerate the company’s profitable growth during the year. We will achieve this through value-creating innovation, strong brands, efficiency improvements and by continuing our successful sustainability work.”

Essity has a significant manufacturing and commercial presence across the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI), including manufacturing sites which employ around 1,400 people and four offices.

Lee Doherty, VP Consumer Goods UKI & MEA, said: “The Q1 2025 results demonstrate Essity’s ability to withstand turbulent economic conditions and continue to deliver for our customers. I am pleased to share several areas of growth and development within our UK and ROI business as we strive to accelerate the positive trajectory in this market.

“Recognising the need to meet the differing budgets of shoppers within the consumer tissue categories we are pleased to have launched new propositions under our leading brands – Cushelle and Plenty. This underlines our commitment to delivering ambitious growth targets across these portfolios.

“We are also seeing growth and an evolution of our dedicated menopause brand – Issviva – which started out as a direct-to-consumer proposition and now has listings in Tesco stores.

“Our multi-million pound investment in a state-of-the-art recycled fibre facility at our largest UK manufacturing in Northumberland is on track to open and be fully operational later this year. We are already the UK’s biggest user of recycled fibre in consumer tissue products and this new facility further strengthens our sustainability credentials and capabilities.

“I was pleased to see the 60 per cent year-on-year growth of Tork PaperCircle in the UK and ROI. Tork PaperCircle is the world’s first paper hand towel recycling service, and is another great example of an industry leading Essity innovation that delivers on sustainability and our growth ambitions.

“Finally, I was proud of the full-year impact report that was published in Q1 2025 detailing our corporate social responsibility work alongside our charity partner In Kind Direct. In 2024, Essity donated over 5 million essential hygiene and health products benefitting over 3,000 charities and as a result, more than 62,000 families in the UK and ROI.”