PZ Cussons
Encyclopedia
PZ Cussons is a major 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
.
by George Paterson and George Zochonis
as Paterson Zochonis. The British-owned company expanded its operations into nearby Nigeria
before the end of the 19th century. PZ expanded considerably during the 20th century, acquiring factories and establishing offices in Ghana
and Kenya
. It was one of three or four firms which commercially dominated Guinea
as a colony before 1958. In 1975 the Company acquired Cussons Group (founded by Thomas Cussons
). Later that century more offices and factories were acquired in Asia
, with PZ's first factory built in Thailand
in 1986, and operations expanded into Indonesia
in 1988. In 1993 PZ bought the state-owned Pollena Wroclaw in Poland
, followed in 1995 by Pollena Uroda and in 2002 Paterson Zochonis Plc was renamed PZ Cussons Plc.
In 2004 PZ Cussons sold the 1001 Carpet Cleaner brand to the American WD-40
Company for £6.2 million.
In 2005 PZ Cussons closed their Nottingham
factory (founded by Gerard Bros.
), and relocated the operations to Thailand
. In 2006 PZ Cussons announced a plan to move their remaining English factory from Kersal
to Swinton
, both in the City of Salford
.
In 2008 PZ Cussons Plc acquired the Sanctuary Spa and Sanctuary products business.
, Africa
and Asia
. PZ Cussons has factories in Salford
and a number of countries abroad including Poland
, Thailand
and Indonesia
.
range of soaps, bath and shower and cosmetic products. It also produces Joy soaps, Cussons Kids toiletries, Premier soaps, Carex anti-bacterial moisturisers, Cussons baby lotions, Luksja gels and soaps, Makler perfumes, Pearl soaps, Sweet Seventeen teenage cosmetic products, Venus range of hair care products, Original Source shampoos and gels, Morning Fresh dishwash liquid, Flourish Toothpaste, Elephant Extra Detergent, Radiant Laundry Granules, Robb mentholated rubs, Duck Laundry Soap and Minerva Olive Oils.
, Nigeria and also operates in Ghana
.
The superstores are called CoolWorld.
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
nations. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
.
History
PZ Cussons was founded in 1879 as a trading post in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
by George Paterson and George Zochonis
George Zochonis
George Basil Zochonis was the founder of PZ Cussons, one of the United Kingdom's largest soap manufacturing businesses.-Career:Brought up in Greece, George Zochnis initially joined the trading house of Fisher & Randall in Freetown in Sierra Leone. In 1879, together with George Paterson, he founded...
as Paterson Zochonis. The British-owned company expanded its operations into nearby Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
before the end of the 19th century. PZ expanded considerably during the 20th century, acquiring factories and establishing offices in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It was one of three or four firms which commercially dominated Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
as a colony before 1958. In 1975 the Company acquired Cussons Group (founded by Thomas Cussons
Thomas Tomlinson Cussons
Thomas Tomlinson Cussons born in Kingston upon Hull, England. Son of George Cussons and his wife Jane Cussons . Thomas was the Chairman of the British soap manufacturing company Cussons & Son...
). Later that century more offices and factories were acquired in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, with PZ's first factory built in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
in 1986, and operations expanded into Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in 1988. In 1993 PZ bought the state-owned Pollena Wroclaw in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, followed in 1995 by Pollena Uroda and in 2002 Paterson Zochonis Plc was renamed PZ Cussons Plc.
In 2004 PZ Cussons sold the 1001 Carpet Cleaner brand to the American WD-40
WD-40
WD-40 is the trademark name of a United States-made water-displacing spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, San Diego, California. It was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion, and later was found to have numerous household...
Company for £6.2 million.
In 2005 PZ Cussons closed their Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
factory (founded by Gerard Bros.
Gerard Bros.
Gerard Bros. Ltd. was a manufacturer of personal healthcare products. The company was founded in 1897, and Mr Thomas B. Gerard was voted its first chairman. The company established a factory in Wilkinson Street, New Basford, Nottingham. The factory was built on a site and pumped water from the...
), and relocated the operations to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. In 2006 PZ Cussons announced a plan to move their remaining English factory from Kersal
Kersal
Kersal is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. The centre of Kersal is northwest of Manchester city centre, and north-northwest of Salford's conventional centre at Greengate....
to Swinton
Swinton, Greater Manchester
Swinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
, both in the City of Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
.
In 2008 PZ Cussons Plc acquired the Sanctuary Spa and Sanctuary products business.
Operations
PZ Cussons Group has a marketing presence in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. PZ Cussons has factories in Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
and a number of countries abroad including Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Brands
PZ Cussons' main brand is the Imperial LeatherImperial Leather
Imperial Leather is a brand of soaps, toiletries and healthcare products manufactured by PZ Cussons. The brand originates in Britain and is now available in a number of other countries including Australia, Denmark, Germany , Pakistan, India, Kenya, South Africa, iran and Dubai...
range of soaps, bath and shower and cosmetic products. It also produces Joy soaps, Cussons Kids toiletries, Premier soaps, Carex anti-bacterial moisturisers, Cussons baby lotions, Luksja gels and soaps, Makler perfumes, Pearl soaps, Sweet Seventeen teenage cosmetic products, Venus range of hair care products, Original Source shampoos and gels, Morning Fresh dishwash liquid, Flourish Toothpaste, Elephant Extra Detergent, Radiant Laundry Granules, Robb mentholated rubs, Duck Laundry Soap and Minerva Olive Oils.
African electrical superstores
PZ Cussons operates a joint venture electrical superstore in LagosLagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria and also operates in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
.
The superstores are called CoolWorld.