NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 1 – PZ Cussons, the multinational behind Imperial Leather and Carex, has placed its Kenyan business under review as part of a broader reassessment of its African operations.
The London-listed group said the review covers its Family Care unit in Kenya, alongside operations in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as its Electricals division in Nigeria.
The move casts uncertainty over the future of PZ Cussons East Africa, which manufactures and distributes personal and home care products in Kenya.
It comes shortly after the company sold its 50 percent stake in the PZ Wilmar edible oils joint venture, a divestment aimed at exiting non-core categories, reducing exposure to Nigeria, and strengthening its balance sheet.
PZ Cussons has also reversed plans to sell its struggling St. Tropez skincare brand, instead opting to restructure the U.S. business and rebuild revenue.
The shift follows weaker sales and profits across some brands. For the year to May 31, 2025, group revenue fell 2.7 percent to £513.8 million (Sh89.7 billion), while adjusted operating profit slid 5.8 percent to £54.9 million (Sh9.6 billion). Margins narrowed to 10.7 percent.
In Africa, revenues dropped 7.1 percent, mainly due to a weaker Nigerian Naira, which averaged 38 percent lower against the prior year. Adjusted operating profit for the region fell nearly 23 percent to £23.4 million (Sh4.1 billion), with margins contracting 340 basis points.
Despite this, the company noted that its Kenyan unit delivered “good, volume-led growth” driven by modern trade channels. However, it warned that these gains may not be enough to offset wider macroeconomic and currency pressures across the region.
