P&G: Well Positioned
for the Future
Looking ahead, P&G is well positioned to capture the significant growth opportunities in our categories and overcome the challenges of the external environment. Consumers seek out our brands and use them daily because of their superior benefits — holistically defined — in order to best accomplish the jobs they need to perform for themselves and their families.
Doing this is in P&G’s DNA. Take the example of Ivory soap. It was introduced as White soap in 1878. But every soap maker sold a “white” soap. Understanding this, the Company tried something new — branding, advertising and improved go-to-market techniques. Within a year Ivory was outselling White soap by 400% because it checked every box, not only a superior product, but superior packaging, brand communication, retail execution and value as well — irresistible superiority.
The point is that P&G’s strategy, while the words may be different, is largely how this Company has succeeded and thrived for generations — focused squarely on consumers and understanding and serving them better than competition with superior brand offerings. We remain steadfast in this commitment, and we are creating the financial, organizational and innovation portfolio conditions necessary to best position ourselves in this pursuit.
The year ahead will be challenging. However, we remain as confident as ever in our strategy and in our ability to drive market growth and to deliver balanced growth and value creation to delight consumers, customers, employees, society and shareowners. And we are taking steps to drive better execution and more investment in the strategy to grow markets and improve our ability to achieve our growth and value creation objectives.
My confidence could not be higher in the collective ability of P&G people to deliver. This Company has survived and thrived for more than 185 years because of our ability to adapt and change, and because of our enduring commitment to winning.
We are going to face the challenges our world presents us straight on. We will not blink. We will not flinch.
Jon R. Moeller
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
VARIOUS STATEMENTS IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT, including estimates, projections, objectives and expected results, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are generally identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in Item 1A – Risk Factors of the Form 10-K included in this Annual Report. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.