PZ Cussons
| File:PZCusslogo.png | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| LSE: PZC | |
| Industry | Cosmetics, Soaps, Gels, Dairy Household chemicals, & Natural Oils |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Founder | George Paterson, George Zochonis |
| Headquarters | Manchester, England |
| Products | Imperial Leather, Soaps, Shampoos, Gels, Milk, Olive Oil, Detergents & Healthcare Products. |
| Revenue | £819.1 million (2015)[1] |
| £114.4 million (2015)[1] | |
| £57.9 million (2015)[1] | |
| Website | www.pzcussons.com |
PZ Cussons is a major British manufacturer of personal healthcare products and consumer goods. It operates worldwide, especially in Africa and Commonwealth nations. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
PZ Cussons was founded in 1879 as a trading post in Sierra Leone by George Paterson and George Zochonis as Paterson Zochonis.[2] The British-owned company expanded its operations into nearby Nigeria before the end of the 19th century.[2] PZ expanded considerably during the 20th century, acquiring factories and establishing offices in Ghana and Kenya.[2] It was one of three or four firms which commercially dominated Guinea as a colony before 1958.[3] In 1975 the Company acquired Cussons Group (founded by Thomas Cussons).[2] Later that century more offices and factories were acquired in Asia, with PZ's first factory built in Thailand in 1986,[2] and operations expanded into Indonesia in 1988.[2] In 1993 PZ bought the state-owned Pollena Wroclaw in Poland,[2] followed in 1995 by Pollena Uroda[2] and in 2002 Paterson Zochonis plc was renamed PZ Cussons plc.[2]
In 2004 PZ Cussons sold the 1001 Carpet Cleaner brand to the American WD-40 Company for £6.2 million.[4]
In 2005 PZ Cussons closed their Nottingham factory (founded by Gerard Bros.), and relocated the operations to Thailand.[5] In 2006 PZ Cussons announced a plan to move their remaining English factory from Kersal to Swinton, both in the City of Salford.[6]
In 2008 PZ Cussons acquired the Sanctuary Spa and Sanctuary products business.[7]
Operations
PZ Cussons Group has a marketing presence in Europe, Africa and Asia.[8] PZ Cussons has factories in Salford, Nigeria, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Greece, Kenya, and Poland.[9]
Brands
PZ Cussons' main brand is the Imperial Leather range of soaps, bath and shower and cosmetic products.[10]Other well known international family brands include Cussons Baby, Original Source, Carex, St.Tropez and Sanctuary Spa.
African electrical superstores
PZ Cussons operates a joint venture electrical superstore in Lagos, Nigeria and also operates in Ghana.[11]
References
- ^ a b c "Preliminary Results 2015". PZ Cussons. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i PZ Cussons: Our history
- ^ Thomas O'Toole, Historical Dictionary of Guinea, Scarecrow Press, 1978, p. 55
- ^ Hall, W. 11.02.2004 “Weak dollar slows down PZ Cussons” Financial Times
- ^ "UK Business Park - B2B Sales Leads & Company News". ukbusinesspark.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ^ Soap maker reveals £15m factory plans Manchester Evening News, 2 August 2006
- ^ Cussons buys Sanctuary Spa brand for £75m Brand Republic, 30 January 2008
- ^ PZ Cussons: Our markets
- ^ "Profits fail to scrub up at PZ Cussons". The Manufacturer. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "Imperial Leather soap maker PZ Cussons all in a lather over turmoil in African markets". This is money. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "UPDATE 2-PZ Cussons boosted by strong trading in Nigeria". Reuters UK. Retrieved 31 March 2015.