The DOUGLAS Group, Europe's leading premium beauty retailer, reported a 1.1% increase in sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2025/26, reaching €949.7 million, according to preliminary figures released today. However, profitability declined as adjusted EBITDA dropped 5.1% to €116.1 million, with a margin of 12.2% compared to 13.0% in the prior year. The company attributed the results to slower growth in mature markets, heightened promotional activity, and weak consumer sentiment in the euro area.
CEO Sander van der Laan noted that the market has undergone a fundamental shift and is stabilizing at a new level. “Growth rates in mature premium beauty markets have normalized compared to the exceptional post‑pandemic period, while geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on consumer sentiment,” he said. The company’s net loss for the quarter is expected to be in the high-double-digit to low-triple-digit million euro range, primarily due to impairments on goodwill related to its French business (NOCIBE) and Parfumdreams/Niche Beauty, along with additional asset impairments.
In response to the changing market dynamics, the DOUGLAS Group has adjusted its full-year guidance. The company now expects sales at the lower end of its previous range of €4.65 billion to €4.80 billion and an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 16.0%, down from the earlier forecast of around 16.5%. Net leverage is anticipated to be at the upper end of the 2.5x to 3.0x range as of September 30, 2026.
The company is sharpening its strategic focus on omnichannel capabilities, differentiation in services and product offerings, and a future-ready infrastructure. Van der Laan emphasized that these measures are deliberate investments for sustainable growth. “Our omnichannel model is a structural advantage in this ‘new normal’,” he stated. The full financial results for the second quarter will be published on May 12, 2026.
For more information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website. View the original release on NewMediaWire.
