Combe Incorporated
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cosmetics |
| Founded | 1949 New York, U.S. |
| Founder | Ivan Combe |
| Headquarters | White Plains, New York , U.S. |
Area served | 64 countries and territories |
| Products | Haircare |
| Owner | Combe family |
| Website | combe |
Combe Incorporated, based in White Plains, New York, is an American personal-care company founded in 1949 by Ivan Combe. Combe products are sold in 64 countries on six continents. Ivan Combe primarily promoted the brand names instead of the company name. Combe owns the brands Just for Men, Sea-Bond, Vagisil, and Grecian Formula.[1]
Combe was the originator of the Clearasil brand in 1950, but sold the rights to it in 1961 to Richardson-Merrell.[2]
In October 2002, Combe acquired J.B. Williams, thereby adding such longtime names as Brylcreem, Aqua Velva and Cepacol to its brand stable.[3]
In January 2011, Combe sold its cough remedy and skin care business to Reckitt Benckiser, and its foot care business (including Odor-Eaters) to Blistex.[4][5]
In 2018, the Environmental Defense Fund and other consumer groups filed a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration to force Combe to remove highly toxic lead acetate from Grecian Formula and other hair dyes. As of July 2018, lead acetate has been replaced with bismuth citrate.
In September 2019, rumours spread about Combe endorsing Joe Biden for presidency, which came from the company's strategic marketing head of US and Canada. This rumour was false.
In December 2020, Combe invested in Virtue Labs, a biotech hair care brand, formulated with a patented bioidentical keratin protein.[6]
In May 2023, Combe acquired the brand Astroglide and company BioFilm from the Wray Family.[7]
Key dates
- 1949: Ivan Combe founds a company.
- 1951: Combe introduces Clearasil.
- 1952: The company's offices move from Manhattan to White Plains, New York.
- 1961: Clearasil is sold to Richardson-Merrell.
- 1974: Combe's first manufacturing plant opens in Illinois.
- 1974: Combe launches Vagisil.[1]
- 1987: Just for Men is introduced.
- 2000: Ivan Combe dies.[8]
- 2002: J.B. Williams is acquired.
- 2011: Sale of cold remedy/skin care business to Reckitt Benckiser, and sale of foot care business to Blistex.
- 2018: Combe is forced to remove toxic lead acetate from Grecian formula and other hair dyes.
- 2019: Combe is rumoured to have endorsed Joe Biden for presidency, which was a false claim.
- 2020: Investment in Virtue Labs.
- 2023: Biofilm is acquired, along with their product Astroglide.
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Clearasil : For Clear Skin, brandslex.de
- ^ Combe Inc. To Acquire J.B. Williams Company, Inc., happi.com, September 30, 2002
- ^ Reckitt Benckiser grows in US with Combe brands, OTC Bulletin, January 21, 2011, p. 1
- ^ Blistex Acquires U.S. and Global ODOR-EATERS Brand, prnewswire.com, January 3, 2011: "Blistex Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the ODOR-EATERS® line of foot care products from Combe Incorporated."
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Ravo, Nick, "Ivan D. Combe, 88, Marketer Of Clearasil and Just for Men", The New York Times, January 17, 2000
External links
[edit | edit source]
- American companies established in 1949
- Pharmaceutical companies established in 1949
- Personal care companies of the United States
- Pharmaceutical companies of the United States
- Combe Incorporated brands
- Companies based in White Plains, New York
- Health care companies based in New York (state)
- Privately held companies based in New York (state)
- 1949 establishments in New York (state)
- United States manufacturing company stubs
- Medical company stubs