Best Global Brands 2021: tech dominates as Amazon, Apple and Microsoft account for 62.3 percent of the top 10’s total value
Interbrand has published its Best Global Brands ranking for 2021. This year, the top 10 was dominated by tech brands once more; Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Samsung placed first to fifth respectively, all having gained around 20 percent in value, with the top three accounting for 62.3 percent of the total value of the top 10.
Global Shea Alliances launches Shea More Love campaign to raise awareness of sustainable parkland initiative
The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) has announced the launch of its Shea More Love campaign, which has been created to raise awareness about the Action for Shea Parklands (ASP) sustainability initiative.
L’Oréal Middle East appeals to shoppers with personalised digital experiences
L’Oréal is working to appeal to online shoppers the GCC-over, with personalised digital experiences such as try-on facilities and virtual consultations, according to a report published by the Khaleej Times.
Valentino make-up launches in travel retail Asia and Middle East
L’Oréal has announced the launch of its Valentino make-up line across travel retail outlets in Asia and the Middle East.
Nigeria looks local to lessen reliance on imported castor oil
Nigeria has cut the ribbon on its first castor oil manufacturing firm, according to a report published by The Nation.
Unilever ceases operations of Ghana Foundation
Unilever has wound down its Ghana Foundation as part of a wider move to manage its CSR strategy at a global level, according to a report published by Joy Online.
P&G partners with SIL Group and Ugee Chemicals to shore up Nigerian supply chain
Procter & Gamble’s Nigerian arm has partnered with the SIL Group and Ugee Chemicals to manufacture Ariel detergent and other laundry powders as well as locally produced raw materials under one roof, according to a report published by Vanguard.
Avon Justine names Kgothatso Montjane ambassador
Avon Justine has named wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane as brand ambassador, according to a report published by IOL.
Procter & Gamble joins forces with Carrefour to plant 26 forests in the UAE
Procter & Gamble has joined forces with Carrefour in a bid to plant 26 forests in the UAE, as part of P&G’s #ForestsforGood campaign.
PZ Cussons’ Camel brand launches CSR campaign
PZ Cussons-owned antiseptic brand, Camel, has launched the second tranche of its current CSR program, Because We Care, according to a report published by Peace FM.
Manscaped expands into Middle East
Grooming brand Manscaped has made its debut in the Middle East, launching onto the UAE and Saudi Arabian markets.
Avon Justine launches performance-based rewards program to incentivize sales force
Avon Justine has launched a performance-based rewards program in a bid to incentivize its South African sales force.
Dubai’s Emaar mulls sales of fashion e-commerce business Namshi
Dubai’s Emaar is reportedly mulling the sale of its fashion e-commerce business Namshi, according to a report by Reuters.
L’Oréal Middle East online sales grow 750 percent since 2018
L’Oréal Middle East has seen an upsurge in online sales of 750 percent since 2018, which is said to be driven by a D2C e-commerce and e-distribution partnership with Dubai-based CNNB Solutions, according to Trade Arabia.
Benefit Cosmetics partners with Al Jalila Foundation to support women in UAE
Benefit Cosmetics has promised to donate funds raised via its latest campaign to the Al Jalila Foundation, according to a report published by About Her.
Unilever Nigeria pays over the odds for dollars as US currency rationed
Unilever Nigeria is having to buy dollars at almost 10 percent over the market rate due to foreign currency rationing at the West African country’s central bank, according to a report published by Bloomberg.
Flydubai unveils duty free eShop
Flydubai has announced the launch of its new online shopping facility, according to a report published by Trade Arabia.
Huda Kattan invests in sexual wellness line Ketish
Huda Beauty Founder Huda Kattan has invested in sexual and feminine wellness brand Ketish via her investment fund, HB Angels.
Unilever Ghana expands Geisha soap line
Unilever Ghana has launched two new bars of its popular Geisha Soap, according to a report published by Joy Online. Formulated with native, natural ingredients, Geisha African Strength Moringa and Geisha African Strength Black chime with the prevailing trend towards natural and locally sourced.
Nouryon opens eco-friendly office and innovation center in Dubai
Specialty chemicals supplier Nouryon has opened a new eco-friendly office and innovation center in Dubai.
Hepsiburada closes US IPO
Turkish e-commerce platform Hepsiburada has announced the closing of its US IPO of 65,251,000 ADSs, priced at US$12 per unit.
Coronation Asset Management: Nigerian banks are resilient
Coronation Asset Management has released a report revealing that Nigerian banks have responded well to the pressures of the pandemic and have proved resilient, according to a report published by Ventures Africa.
La Perla launches new collection; names Moroccan-Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi as face of its signature scent
La Perla is launching a new cosmetics collection, La Perla Beauty, and has named Moroccan-Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi as the face of its signature scent, according to a report by Arab News.
Saudi FDA bans sale of Henna Al Madina over safety concerns
Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drugs Authority has issued a recall notice for Henna Al Madina after finding the cosmetic product to contain dangerous levels of bacteria, according to a report published by Gulf News.
Unilever extends Sunlight Women of More program to reach 100,000 female entrepreneurs by 2026
Unilever is scaling up its Sunlight Women of More program, which launched last year, aiming to provide training in financial literacy to 5,000 women in 2021 – up from 50 in 2020 – and at least 100,000 female entrepreneurs in East Africa by 2026, according to a report published by KBC Channel.
Global Shea Alliance implements pilot project on developing resilient shea agroforestry farm model
The Global Shea Alliance is set to implement a pilot project of Resilient Shea Agroforestry Farm Model (RSAFM) in Nigeria.
Model Halima Aden returns to fashion industry with Tommy Hilfiger collaboration
US-Somali model Halima Aden has teased a return to the fashion world following her announcement back in October that she was quitting modelling.
YSL Beauty re-commits to ecosystem restoration in Ourika Valley, Morocco
YSL Beauty has reconfirmed its commitment to regenerative agriculture and ecosystem restoration in the Ourika Valley, home of its Ourika Community Gardens in Morocco.
Estée Lauder appoints Adut Akech as newest Global Brand Ambassador
Estée Lauder has announced South Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech as its newest Global Brand Ambassador.
Sisley Paris opens biggest spa yet in W Doha
Sisley Paris has opened its biggest spa to date at the W Doha Hotel & Residences, located in the Qatar capital’s West Bay area, according to a report published by the Gulf Times.
LVMH backs Bella Hadid as she speaks up for Palestine
LVMH is said to be backing Bella Hadid following her activism in support of Palestine during the ongoing conflict with Israel, according to a report by Instagram watchdog account Diet Prada.
Nivea prevails in passing off claim against South African dupe
Beiersdorf-owned Nivea has prevailed in an intellectual property suit brought against a ‘dupe’ brand in South Africa, according to a report published by the International Law Office.
L’Oréal Fund for Women pledges AED1.24 million to Shamsaha
L’Oréal Fund for Women will donate AED1.24 million to Shamsaha, a non-profit corporation based in Bahrain, to support its mission to protect, advocate for and empower women in the GCC.
Huda Beauty sponsors NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger
Huda Beauty was named as the sponsor for NASCAR’s first Arab-American female driver, Toni Breidinger for her track debut at General Tire 200 at Telladega Speedway in April.
Unilever supports South African Athlete Caster Semenya as part of Lux campaign
Unilever has thrown its support behind South African Athlete Caster Semenya, who was banned from defending her 800-metre gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, as part of a campaign for its Lux brand.
Saudi Arabia to extend halal certification requirements
Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug regulator, SFDA, has drafted a regulation that, if passed into law, would require the majority of imported food products to be halal-certified, according to a report published by Salaam Gateway, quoting Gulf Trade.
Amazon plans South African headquarters in new Cape Town development
Amazon is to locate its South African headquarters in the new R4 billion Cape Town development, named River Club.
Kamal Osman Jamjoom acquires The Body Shop Stores (UAE)
Retail group Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group has acquired The Body Shop Stores (UAE), the exclusive distributor of The Body Shop and operator of The Body Shop retail outlets in the UAE.
ITP Media introduces print magazines Harper’s Bazaar and Esquire into Saudi Arabia
ITP Media has launched Harper’s Bazaar Saudi and Esquire Saudi in Saudi Arabia, with permission from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s as part of his Vision 2030 strategy.
US$10 million Japanese factory complex to be built in Egypt
The Chairman of the Egyptian-Japanese Business Council, Ibrahim Al-Arabi has announced that Japanese cosmetics firm Saraya is set to pile US$10 million into the Suez Canal Economic Zone – the first investment to be made by a Japanese firm in the region, according to a report published by Egypt Today.
Avon to launch in Kenya
Avon is on a mission to expand its African footprint, according to a report published by CAJ News Africa, and will launch in Kenya this year.
Qatar Airways partners with luxury fragrance brand Diptyque
Qatar Airways has announced a partnership with Diptyque, with the fragrance brand supplying a new line of luxury toiletries to passengers.
Dior collaborates with top chef to create scent-inspired menu
Dior has teamed up with Portuguese chef Jose Avillez to put together a multi-sensory menu inspired by the LVMH-owned label’s most popular perfumes, according to a report published by Hotel & Catering.
Qatar Duty Free unveils new Chanel fragrance space
Qatar Duty Free has cut the ribbon on a rotonda for Chanel fragrances at Hamad International Airport, according to a report published by DFNI Frontier.
MAC teams up with Lebanese actress Nadine Njeim on new make-up range
MAC Cosmetics has teamed up with Lebanese actress and model Nadine Nassib Njeim to create a new make-up range, named The Black Cherry x Nadine N. Njeim, according to a report by Arab News.
Celebrity make-up artist Mohammed Hindash launches beauty brand Hindash Cosmetics
Dubai-based celebrity make-up artist Mohammed Hindash is set to launch his first beauty brand, named Hindash Cosmetics.
Tiger Brands predicts H1 profit to rise 20 percent
Tiger Brands has stated that it expects H1 headline earnings to rise 20 percent in the six months ending 31 March, according to a report by Reuters.
L’Oréal Paris names Mona Zaki as spokesperson for the MENA region
L’Oréal Paris has announced Mona Zaki as its new spokesperson for the MENA region, according to a report published by Egypt Today. The Egyptian actor and UNICEF ambassador has won several prestigious awards and was recently feted at the Cairo International Film Festival, picking up the Faten Hamama Award for Excellence.
L’Oréal FY2020: Record online sales accounts for more than a quarter of 2020 total as recovery continues
L’Oréal has announced its results for the final quarter and full year of 2020. The French beauty giant saw sales rise 4.9 percent yoy (like-for-like) in the final three months of the year for an overall drop of 4.1 percent for 2020 versus 2019.
Dior partners with QDF to launch exclusive Tobacolor fragrance
Dior has partnered with Qatar Duty Free (QDF) on an exclusive launch of the new fragrance Tobacolor.
LATEST NEWS
