Kao - Kao

Japanese: 花王 - かおう

A leading manufacturer of soap and detergent. Its predecessor was Nagase Tomiro Shoten, founded in 1887, and in 1925 it was reorganized as Kao Soap Co., Ltd. Nagase Shokai (renamed Kao in 1946). In 1960, it spun off the affiliated Dai-Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd. In 1965, it established Nippon Yokusui Co., Ltd. with a joint investment from Tekkosha Co., Ltd. In 1975, it renamed itself Kao Soap Co., Ltd. In the same year, Dai-Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd. merged with Kao Co., Ltd. and renamed itself Kao Yushi Co., Ltd. In 1979, Kao Soap Co., Ltd. merged with Kao Yushi Co., Ltd., and in 1985, it changed its name to the current one. In 1986, it absorbed Kao Chemical Co., Ltd., in 1988, it acquired Andrew Jurgens Company of the United States, and in 1989, it acquired Goldwell AG of West Germany. Known for its moon logo, it is a pioneer in Japanese marketing, and has developed as a synthetic detergent manufacturer since the spread of electric washing machines in the 1950s and after, and is one of the top manufacturers along with Lion. The cosmetics division has also shown good growth. The company is also strengthening its sales structure by establishing "Kao Product Sales Companies" in various regions. The company is actively expanding overseas, and has formed alliances with foreign companies and has numerous joint ventures. Sales breakdown is personal care 37%, household 38%, sanitary products 13%, oil products 4%, and chemical products 8%. Annual sales are 924,595 million yen (consolidated, of which 3% is exports), capital is 83,887 million yen, and the number of employees is 6,754 (1999).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

石鹸・洗剤のトップメーカー。 1887年創業の長瀬富郎商店が前身で，1925年花王石鹸株式会社長瀬商会 (1946年花王と改称) に改組。 35年同系の大日本油脂を分離設立。 40年さらに鉄興社と共同出資して日本有機を設立し，49年花王石鹸と改称，同年大日本油脂は花王を合併して花王油脂と改称，54年花王石鹸は花王油脂を合併，85年現社名に変更。 86年花王化学を吸収合併，88年アメリカのアンドリュー・ジャーゲンズ・カンパニーを買収，89年西ドイツのゴールドウェル・アーゲーを買収。月のマークで知られ，日本のマーケティングの草分け的存在で，昭和 30年代以後の電気洗濯機の普及とともに合成洗剤メーカーとして発展，ライオンと並んでトップメーカーの位置を占める。化粧品部門も好調な伸びをみせる。また「花王製品販売会社」の各地設立で販売体制を強化している。海外進出も積極的に展開するほか，外国企業とも提携を結び，合弁会社を多数もつ。売上構成比は，パーソナルケア 37%，ハウスホールド 38%，サニタリー 13%，油脂製品4%，化成品8%。年間売上高 9245億 9500万円 (連結。うち輸出3%) ，資本金 838億 8700万円，従業員数 6754名 (1999) 。

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