Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, MN, reported diluted net income per share grew 19%, diluted earnings per share from ongoing operations increased 24% and consolidated sales jumped 12% to $979 million for the first quarter ended March 31.Executives said U.S. and international operations showed improvement from fourth quarter 2003 and good growth compared to last year. “Business trends are improving in our core hospitality and foodservice markets, and we are exploiting these with a terrific slate of n...