The company attributed its sales success to its sex-related lines, pointing out that while sales for sandals were down three percent, condoms and sex toys carried the day, accounting for 9 percent growth.
“Our positioning of Durex to provide not only safe sex but help people have better sex has been a key driver of sales growth,” a company spokesman said. “We have evolved our product offering into three clearly defined groups — condoms, lubricants and devices — all under the Durex banner.”
The company markets sex toys and lubricants under the Durex Play label, alongside the Durex condom line.
More than a year ago, Boots, a traditional English pharmacy chain with more than 1,400 retail stores, began selling the Durex Play line of sex toys. According to William Clutterbuck, an executive at SSL, the company worked closely to develop a line of toys that would match the traditional Boots retail shopping experience.
With a foothold in British retail, SSL is looking east to China for further growth, announcing that it has purchased its local condom manufacturing partner to capitalize on what it sees as the next big market.
