What One Must Understand About P&G Detergents
Such as Tide, and it is probably true for many other products, P&G does not simply produce one version of Tide detergent on their own. If one examines any MSDS for a P&G product, such as Tide detergent, it is made quite clear each formula covers a wide range of products.
Tide "2X" liquid detergents, for "HE", Simple Pleasures, Regular, and so forth are all the same basic formula, with slight variations to allow for colouring, scent (or absence thereof), and so forth.
P&G is not going to build nor retool any of their factories merely to produce one variety of detergent (Ariel), nor are they going to incurr the shippng and import costs (not to mention package redesign costs), to bring the UK Ariel into the US.
The current North American version of Ariel, is a product also sold as "ACE" laundry detergent, which P&G rolled out nationally to hopefully cash in on the Hispanic market loyalty to the Mexcican version, which cannot be sold in most of the US because of phosphates. P&G was also trying to head off the various importers and stores selling the Mexican version in the US, causing it no end of troubles with tree-huggers and the rest, who believed P&G was behind things.
While many have received great results using European detergents in the US, it is important to remember these products are designed and tested for soil, water and other conditions in their designated markets. No major company is going to roll out a product that has not been very well tested for the American consumer (P&G spends vast sums testing all versions of Tide, in all areas of the country).
Besides, according to most consumer testing, reports and sales, Tide detergents are already number one in market share and performance in the United States. Why eat one's own young, so to speak by bringing in competiton from overseas?
