Düsseldorf Group: Persil, Taft, Pril, Pritt - Henkel turns 150
For decades, Henkel has been shaping the daily lives of many customers with its well-known branded products. A look at important milestones, crises and current challenges facing the company.
Henkel, a leading manufacturer of consumer goods and industrial products, was founded 150 years ago by Fritz Henkel in Aachen. The company has grown significantly since then, with major milestones including its listing on the Dax in 1985 and the acquisition of US-based National Starch from Akzo Nobel in 2008 for €3.7 billion. Today, Henkel operates in 53 countries, employs around 50,000 people, and generates annual revenues of €20.5 billion, with its consumer goods and adhesive businesses each accounting for around half of revenues.
The company faces challenges including intense competition from Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and L’Oréal, as well as pressure from consumers switching to cheaper store brands. Henkel has also faced controversy, including criticism over its business in Russia following the Ukraine war and its historical ties to the Nazi regime.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
