PZ Cussons has increased its full-year profit expectations after reporting a "strong performance" in H1.

The personal healthcare products and consumer goods firm recorded an 8% increase in revenue in the six months to 29 November, totalling £269.3m.

Its operating profit fell in line with expectations, increasing by 32% to £35.6m, while its profit before tax rose by 50% to £29.8m.

PZ Cussons, which owns brands Imperial Leather, Carex and St. Tropez, recorded like-for-like (LFL) revenue growth of 9.5% in this period across its four lead markets of the UK, Australia and New Zealand, Nigeria and Indonesia.

In the UK, the company said that growth was driven by its Sanctuary Spa brand, with successful Christmas gifting.

The healthcare firm also revealed it has now received £48.5m to date in respect to the sale of its 50% stake in the PZ Wilmar joint venture, with a further £3.4m expected in the coming weeks.

Its cost savings programme for the 2026 financial year is also on track to save between £5m and £10m.

Chief executive officer at PZ Cussons, Jonathan Myers, said: "We have delivered a strong performance in the first half of the year across our four lead markets. This performance, with a healthy balance of price and volume increases, and growth in each of our largest ten brands, has been driven by targeted investment in innovation, brand-building and continued strong commercial execution.

"Combined with tight cost control, we delivered double-digit growth in adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share allowing us to increase guidance for the full year."

The firm said its trading to the end of January has been in line with expectations with continued strong LFL revenue growth.

As a result, PZ Cussons has increased its operating profit guidance range from £50m-55m to £53m-57m.

Following its trading update, shares in PZ Cussons jumped over 9%.

Myers added: "We have concluded our strategic review, which has resulted in a significantly strengthened balance sheet and a more focused and more resilient business.

"With a balance between developed and emerging markets and building on competitive go-to-market capabilities and manufacturing scale, we are targeting double-digit total shareholder return through the cycle."

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