increase in organic sales was attributable to the growth regions of Eastern Europe, Africa/Middle East and Latin America which, in some cases, posted double-digit percentage improvements. In Western Europe and North America, on the other hand, the difficult market environment impeded sales performance to the extent that neither region was able to attain the sales level of the prior-year quarter. Nevertheless, operating profit rose significantly, by 17.0% to โฌ137 M. After adjusting for foreign exchange, the rise was 23.7%. The Laundry segment made a disproportionately high contribution to the rise in sales, with the biggest boost to growth again coming from Eastern Europe and Africa/Middle East. The good sales performance posted was also due to a number of successful innovations such as Persil ActicPower, which requires just half the previous quantity per wash and develops its laundry power at just 15 deg C. In the USA, Henkel's innovation Purex 3-in-1 also continued to perform very well. The Home Care segment likewise turned in a positive sales performance, with the growth regions of Eastern Europe and Africa/Middle East again leading the way. Here, Henkel's dishwashing products continued to generate particular success.
With organic sales growth of 3.7% in 3Q 2009, Cosmetics/Toiletries was successful in outpacing the growth of its relevant markets as they continued to bear the impact of the economic downturn. The contributions made by the growth regions of Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America were particularly noticeable, with Western Europe also posting an organic sales increase. This encouraging sales performance was also reflected in an increase in operating profit of 3.3% to โฌ99 M. The Hair Care business developed very well as a result of the further roll-out of the new Syoss brand and the introduction of the new Schwarzkopf variants. In the Body Care segment, the Dial brand consolidated its ongoing success in the USA, with the body wash product Dial Anti-Oxidant having developed into one of the most successful launches in this market segment. In Europe too, the shower gels/body wash products marketed under the Fa brand continued to perform very well, achieving one of the fastest growth rates in this category.