MEGAPEARLS

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So I was just thinking that it would be cool if Henkel would introduce Megapearls to the US & Canadian markets via Purex. Like a high-end purex or something, enhanced with borax maybe.

Just an idea.
 
But you can buy that Persil formulation here now. Why Purex? It could not be much cheaper under the Purex brand with the exchange rates the way they are now. I don't think most shoppers in grocery, K Mart, Walmart or Target stores would be candidates for an expensive product like that, especially since those who want to pony up the bucks can either find it at a vacuum store or on the web. Have I misunderstood your post? Sorry if I did. Tom
 
maybe just a little...

I meant that Henkel should keep Persil where it is and introduce a variation of Purex in the megapearl format - something new which would make them stand out amoung the other detergents at the store. I like what they have done with the liquid detergents in the smaller bottles.
 
Bring Persil Megapearls to the states!

I would love to see Persil sold here. Purex on the other hand is terrible.
 
Persil Is Already Sold In The United States

Imported via Miele USA, thus Henkel is not likely to make any further in roads into the US market. For one thing it is a VERY expensive and cut throat business when it comes to laundry detergents. Persil really has no advantages over say Tide, except in certian makes of front loading washing machines; and it would cost dear to import the products from Germany. Due to the import costs Persil could never beat what P&G sell Tide for, and indeed P&G could lower the price of Tide to drive out any newcomer. Tide and it's numerous variations hold about 60 percent of the US detergent market, Henkel has better fish to fry than to try and compete with P&G on their own manor.
 
If they were going to enter, they wouldn't manufacture it in the EU anyway. It's far too expensive. It would be a case of improving Purex and leveraging its brand and distribution channels.

They could also introduce the Persil brand via Purex too e.g. Purex PERSIL as a premium HE product.

However, the laundry detergent market's viciously cut throat and difficult to get any foothold in.

Even within Europe, Henkel has almost zero presence in the laundry market in the UK and Ireland, other than Filetti, an extremely minority detergent aimed at sensitive skin / baby care. They have no main stream presence here at all in that market. Effectively, other than store brands, Unilever and P&G have a near total duopoly.

However, if Henkel could use PERSIL technology to increase Purex's market share, that might be something they would persue. Particularly as there's a massive growing market for HE detergents and they would have no R&D costs. Just a matter of tweaking Dial Corp's plant to produce Persil.
 
Thanks mrx!

That's my point - Henkel should be looking at a way to improve the Purex brand. I do not see them bringing the Persil brand itself to the US but they could market Purex Megapearls very easily for the he market here.

Americans are a marketing person's dream - show us an image of perfection and we're likely to believe it.

Of course - they could always get Oprah to bless it.
 
It might be some time before that happens

as the Megaperl process is patented in EU and I still cannot find a US patent yet. I bet they have applied over here that's standard but it has not been granted.

It takes a special sphereonizer to make the pearls so Henkel would need to add equipment to the Purex plant to produce Megapearls here. Plant upgrades are always expensive.

I know they do make it for Saintsbury's in the UK. They have a shot of a nice soccer bum on the front package!!
 
IIRC, in 2001 or so Purex introduced a "premium" product, it came in a red package with the familiar hexagonal Purex label. When Henkel and Dial had a marketing agreement, before the outright sale. I believe it was a huge flop. I think because Purex has always been considered a value brand. I didn't try it, I had just bought a front load and was trying the HE stuff. It vanished as fast as it was put on the market.
I would love to see Henkel market a US- made Persil formulation(not under the Purex name, though). I love the detergent and have used it off and on for years, now currently pretty regularly, but "Oy" the price is killer. I would also like to see more "colour" variants in the American market, as in Europe.
 
With or without the sausage-nosed TV spokesfox?

pflege.jpg
 

maytagbear

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WITH!!!!

The Henkel Fox is endearing!! As I have said before, if they use the fox on something, I'll try it--once. The first box would or would not sell the second.

I would like to try Persil Megapearls, but there isn't a source really nearby. (The Cleveland suburbs are not nearby when one is out of cars.)

Purex used to have a pretty nice bath bar soap called "Sweetheart." Haven't seen it in years.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Use of the name Persil

There's a big question mark as to whether Henkel own the rights to use the name Persil in the US and Canada btw.

I have no idea how that market-sharing agreement that was carved up in the aftermath of WWII with Unilever was done.

E.g. it seems that Unilever have Persil in : UK, Rep of Ireland and France.
Also, New Zealand.
So, I wonder if they could also have rights to the Persil brand in North America and simply have never exercised them.
 
Persil - France

Interestingly, Unilever also market Persil in France - where it is a very nature-focused, skin friendly product that is sold along side their main brand of detergent Skip.

Persil Petit et Puissant (Small and Mighty) has also been released recently.
It comes in 'Almonde Douce" (Sweet/Soft Almond) and "Fraicheur Alpes du Sud" - Freshness of the Southern Alps versions.

 
Link doesn't quite work -

You need to click on "Les produits"
Then "Petit et Puissant"
 
There was a Purex Advanced powder as well...just got kind of lost in the marketplace...probably equivalent to Surf/Gain (i.e. single enzyme formula).

I remember also that about 15 years ago Clorox test-marketed a laundry detergent as well--concentrated powder akin to old All...bought it once in Chattanooga, TN.
 
Just looking at the unilever Ireland formulations

Surf Powder (all types):
1 Enzyme : Protease
(Same in all of the surf liquids)

Persil has
3 enzymes : Protease, Amylase, Lipase
(All powders and tablets)
UK Tablets = with phosphates
Irish tablets = without phosphates
(Regulatory differences between the UK and IRL - I suspect the Omo phosphate-free tablets in Persil packaging)

Ariel: Powder and Liquids :
2 Enzymes - Glycosidase (listed twice) and Protease.
The liquids have Glycosidase listed 4 times!!

Ariel tablets :
3 Enzymes
1: Glycosidase (listed twice)
2: Protease
3: Cellulase

P&G Europe UK/IRL products with each enzyme
Cellulase:

so if you want to avoid bobbling :

Ariel Colour and Style powder
Ariel Tablets (All)
Bold Tablets (all)
Dreft Dark Liquid
Dreft Regular Powder
 
Henkel owns Mexican detergent "Viva". Henkel is a very old German soap company, approximately 150 years in business.

Ross
 
in summary

If you've greasy stains / oils etc
Persil Powder

To prevent bobbling using enzymes:
Ariel tablets or Colour & Style
(Other formulas use different chemicals to achieve this result i.e. various softening / conditioning ingredients)

Liquids :
Mostly relatively simple enzyme formulation.
Surf - single enzyme
 
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