Germany: Henkel to merge Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care
German household and personal care giant Henkel has announced the merger of its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses into one unit, in a press release reporting its annual results and growth agenda. According to Henkel, the new Henkel Consumer Brands business unit will create a ‘multi-category platform’ for the consumer business under […]
France: Henkel to acquire Swania SAS
German company Henkel has announced the acquisition of Swania SAS, a household care supplier based in France. The acquisition will allow Henkel to strengthen its position in the detergents and cleaning products market committed to limiting the impact on the environment. Swania is a French ecological home care company which portfolio includes Maison Verte a […]
UK: Unilever to partner with Arzeda
Unilever, the multinational consumer goods giant has announced a strategic partnership with Arzeda, the industry-leading Protein Design Company. Arzeda is a synthetic biology company that creates novel proteins, enzymes derived from nature, and specialty chemical products used through smart technologies to optimise their functionalities. Over the next three years, Unilever will use Arzeda’s world-leading digital […]
UK: Unilever to complete unification process
Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant, has announced the completion of the unification of its group legal structure under a single parent company, Unilever plc. Founded in 1930, Unilever has been operating under two separated listed companies – a Dutch NV and a UK plc. With the unification, Unilever NV will merge into Unilever plc. […]
USA: Walmart to start testing on-demand drone delivery
US retail giant Walmart has announced that it has begun testing the delivery of grocery and household products from its stores using automated drones. Launched in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this test is being carried out in partnership with Flytrex, an end-to-end drone delivery company. The drones are controlled over the cloud using a smart and […]
Indonesia: Kimberly-Clark to acquire Softex Indonesia
US-based household firm Kimberly-Clark has announced the acquisition of personal care manufacturer Softex Indonesia for $1.2 billion. Present in Indonesia since 1976, Softex is described as a producer of hygiene products for children, woman, and adults, with nappies being its most important category. According to Kimberly-Clark, the acquisition of Softex will allow the company to “boost its presence […]
UK: Unilever mulls future of washing powder factory
Unilever, the multinational consumer goods giant, has announced it is undertaking a review of its washing powder factory in Warrington, UK in light of falling sales of powder detergents. The future of the plant, which manufactures Persil and Surf laundry powder and employs 123 staff, will be decided by the end of February, Unilever said. “Unilever […]
Brazil: Quimica Amparo to construct new factory
Quimica Amparo, the household goods firm behind the Ype brand, has announced plans to construct a new factory and distribution centre in Pernambuco in a bid to bolster its presence in Brazil’s North East region, according to a report in New Trade. The new plant will start by manufacturing the firm’s line of liquid detergents, […]
UK: Unilever divests part of Central American laundry business
Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant, has announced it has entered into an agreement to sell part of its laundry detergent business in Central America to the Guatemalan household and personal care firm Industria La Popular for an undisclosed sum. The deal will see Unilever divest its direct application laundry soap bars business in Central America, including […]
USA: Target introduces “sustainable” label Everspring
Target, the US grocery retailer, has announced the launch of a new private label personal and homecare line under the Everspring brand name that is “designed with sustainability in mind”. According to a press release from the retailer, the line is composed of more than 70 household essentials such as laundry detergent, cleaners, dish soap, […]