Colgate-Palmolive Sells Laundry Detergent Line

[whirlcool]

I don't know if you saw it this week, but Colgate-Palmolive is selling off their laundry detergent line up to Phoenix Brands LLC. This consists of the Fab, Dynamo, Arctic Power, ABC, Cold Power and Fresh Start brands. Also included in this is the licensing rights to the Ajax brand of laundry detergent.

I know that Fresh Start is impossible to find in my part of the country (Houston, TX). You would think that since it's low sudsing, they'd market it for the HE crowd.
I haven't seen Cold Power, ABC in years, and I haven't even heard of Artic Power. (Canadian maybe?)

What do you think will become of these brands?
Phoenix Brands markets Rit dyes and Niagra Starch (acquired from Unilever some time ago)

 

[petek]

ABC

ABC is still sold in Canada as a bargain brand. Arctic power as well, probably the same as Cold Power, different name.

 

[lavamat_daniele]

In Europe...

Colgate Palmolive sold their brands (Dinamo in Italy, Axion and Gama in France, Dynamo and Ajax laundry detergent in Denmark) 2 years ago to P&G.

Now these products have the same packaging, formula and fragrance of others P&G products, and the original CP formula is no longer available

Daniele

http://www.eu.pg.com/news/2003/20031020colgateacquisitionbrands.html

 

[toggleswitch]

Makes sense in a way to sell because usage will prolly drop drastically over time (next 20 years) due to change in Federal laws with water and efficicncy standards for clothes washers that effectively prohibit sales of T/L water (and detergent) hogs.

Let's see who else does this. I'm guessing that industry will collapse here too and we will be flooded with international "guests"

 

[whirlcool]

Industry Consolidation

Looks like the laundry detergent industry is consolidating the way the washer manufacturers did back in the 80's. While consolidation is good for companies, it's terrible for consumers. It leads to less choice. I imagine some brands will disappear before this is all over with.

 

[peterh770]

C-P sold their Mexican brands to Henkel about a year ago. Viva is still a great detergent, but the scent is way different.

Anyone still have FRESH START in their stores? I saw some in Omaha during convention and am kicking myself now for not buying it...

 

[westtexman]

Fresh Start

I am able to buy Fresh Start at my local supermarket. In fact, I have a bottle in my laundry room now. Does anyone want me to send them some?

Tex

 

[whirlcool]

As An Alternative....

I have seen Fresh Start online for $8.99, for the 4.14 lb container. The only place I haven't checked is Dollar General, but all the usual players in Houston and environs (Fiesta, HEB, Kroger, Randall's, Target and Wal-Mart) no longer stock it. Even though Google shows it as being linked on the Colgate website, it no longer appears their under their product list. So I imagine this is now a discontinued product.

I didn't know that Science Diet is a Colgate-Palmolive subsidary!

http://www.drugstore.com/search/search.asp?searchtype=1&trx=28198&trxp1=60&srchtree=1&search=Fresh+Start

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yes we have Fresh Start here in Minneapolis, you can get it at Lunds Supermarkets, I buy it all the time. Fresh Start has the most "vintage" scent of all the Modern American detergents and does not leave a powdery residue like most of the other nasty, flowery smelling modern detergents. ABC and Artic Power are Canadian brands, ABC still have phosphates and also has a nice near "vintage" smell. According to Eddy, Artic Power has been discontinued in Western Canada and is now only available in ON, PQ and the Maritimes.
Eddy brought me a box of ABC and I just love. I think I'm going to have to take a drive to Winnipeg (among other reasons) to pick up some more.

 

[gansky1]

Peter, where did you see the Fresh Start here? I can't remember all the places we were - HyVee store? I guess I haven't looked closely enough! I bought some at Lund's in Minne the last time we were up there and really like it. I have some vintage Fresh Start - orginal version with phosphates and really like that too.

The Canadian ABC is great detergent, the smell is really clean - thanks again Eddy!

 

[westtexman]

ABC Detergent

Is there a place you can order ABC online?

Tex

 

[westytoploader]

Might have to drive to Lubbock...

Wow, I can't believe Fresh Start is still sold in Texas! I can't find it anywhere except online! We actually used Fresh Start when I was a little kid...and the Convention helped me remember!! Both versions had a great scent to them, and the vintage version produced a bit of suds in the Speed Queen as well as a "controlled suds layer" in the Wash-N-Dry Laundromat with 1 capful!

I've used Ajax before, and it's also a good detergent. And of course Fab should be marketed as "The 1-18 Detergent"...low-sudsing so you can see the Jet Action!

 

[westtexman]

Frest Start, Fab, Ajax

Austin -

Always welcome to come to Lubbock. However, if you want to avoid the long drive, I will be happy to send you any of these detergents. We have them all available in Lubbock.

Tex

 

[peterh770]

Greg,

Yes, it was there at Hy-Vee. There were 3 bottles on the shelf at about knee level.

 

[angus]

Sad, but it was bound to happen. For a long time, Colgate has not been a major player as their focus became more health care, pet care, etc... Actually, Colgate hasn't manufactured Ajax detergent for a long time. That ( along with Lever's Surf) has been manufactured by Huish Detergents for several years now. So short of trying desparately to find these products on line, NOW what do we do??

 

[whirlcool]

We can hope that Phoenix Brands puts new "life" into these detergents and promotes them to the public. Who knows they may reformulate them into something better?