Key Takeaways:

• Unilever has received a binding offer for Dutch baby care brand Zwitsal. 
• Personal care manufacturer Royal Sanders to acquire the business.
• Zwitsal is the most recognized baby care brand in the Netherlands

Unilever sharpens its focus on global brands with Zwitsal sale.

WHO: Zwitsal is a heritage brand originally founded in the Netherlands in 1928 by pharmacist C.J. Jansen. The brand's signature scent and yellow packaging have made it one of the most recognizable childcare brands in Western Europe and parts of Southeast Asia. It began with a desire to provide gentle, pharmaceutical-grade care for delicate infant skin, starting with an iconic baby powder.

Dutch pharmacist Nicolaas Sanders founded the Royal Sanders Company in 1851 in Leiden, producing medical, household, and shaving soap. Since its establishment, Royal Sanders has grown virtually every year and is now a highly diversified global business and leading supplier of personal care products. 

WHY: Zwitsal’s predominantly local footprint doesn’t align with Unilever’s strategy to concentrate resources on its scalable Power Brands. 

DETAILS: 

• Unilever to sell Zwitsal to Royal Sanders. The deal price has not been disclosed.
• Zwitsal joined Unilever's portfolio through the acquisition of Sara Lee’s personal care business, a transaction integrated between 2010 and 2011. The deal placed Zwitsal within Unilever’s broader personal care division alongside global brands such as Dove, Rexona, and Axe.
• Baker McKenzie advised Unilever on the sale of Zwitsal.