Philips: Consumer lifestyle line had double-digit growth in Q1 

Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. saw its consumer lifestyle business post double-digit growth in the first quarter as more Filipinos prioritize their health and well-being, according to Philips general manager Angelia Oh.   "With our 2012 consumer lifestyle product range, we are moving to the next level in terms of our commitment to consumer health and well being," Oh said.   She said kitchen niche products—like juicers, fryers, espresso and machines—and personal care items, such as electric toothbrushes and shavers, helped contribute to one-third of Philips’ total business. The lighting and healthcare arrays split the rest of the pie.   Child care, Oh noted, is also a growing niche for Philips in the Philippines.   “We hope that these new products will accelerate our performance in 2012,'  Oh said. Well-entrenched   Philips has been entrenched in the Philippine market since 1920 but it was only in 1956 when it established its corporate presence in the country. Its headquarters are in The Netherlands.   From selling lighting products at first, Philips diversified into consumer electronics, communication devices, sound and video gadgets, domestic appliances, medical systems, and semiconductors.   Philips said on its website that it directly employs 6,000 Filipinos while its subcontractors and suppliers employ several thousand others, It has two semiconductor plants in Laguna and a consumer electronics facility in Las Piñas. — ELR, GMA News