DOUGLAS Group, Europe's leading premium beauty retailer, announced preliminary second-quarter results showing sales growth of 1.1% to 949.7 million euros, but adjusted EBITDA fell 5.1% to 116.1 million euros, resulting in a margin of 12.2% compared to 13.0% in the prior year. The company also updated its full-year guidance, reflecting a challenging market environment characterized by slower growth in mature markets, shifting consumer behavior, and increased promotional activity.
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, as well as other asset impairments.
In response to these conditions, DOUGLAS Group has adjusted its guidance for the financial year 2025/26. The company now expects sales at the lower end of its previous range of 4.65-4.80 billion euros, an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 16.0% (down from around 16.5%), and net leverage 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, differentiation, and profitable growth. 'Our omnichannel model is a structural advantage in this 'new normal'. The strategic direction we took with 'Let it Bloom' already put us in a good position, and we are further narrowing down this path and accelerating our efforts to excel in the execution of our initiatives,' van der Laan said. He emphasized that these measures are deliberate investments in the foundation for sustainable, profitable growth, not short-term reactions.
The full financial report for the second quarter will be published on May 12, 2026. For more information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website.
