No, Vaseline is not an Indian company. It is an American brand of petroleum jelly which is currently owned by a British multinational consumer goods company named Unilever. Core product of Vaseline is petroleum jelly, known for healing dry skin, cuts, and minor burns. However, over the years, it has expanded its product portfolio to include skin creams, deodorants, lotions, soaps, serums, spray moisturizers and more.
Vaseline is leading global brand in body and hand care market, and is particularly popular for its signature 100% pure petroleum jelly. The stated aim of the brand is providing accessible skin care to the consumers. Vaseline is running a program called Vaseline Healing Project which aims to provide dermatological care to over 5 million people.
| Detail | Info |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Founder | Robert Augustus Chesebrough |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| CEO | Hein Schumacher |
| Sector | Personal Care |
Company History
Robert Augustus Chesebrough began selling petroleum jelly under the brand name Vaseline in the year 1870. In 1872, Chesebrough Manufacturing Company was formally established to produce and market Vaseline petroleum jelly. By the year 1875, Vaseline petroleum jelly had become popular in the United States with sales rate of one tin per minute.
In the 1880s, Chesebrough Manufacturing Company expanded its product portfolio to include vaseline-based soaps and creams. The company merged with Pond’s, a cold cream and skincare brand, in the year 1955 to form Chesebrough-Pond’s Inc. While maintaining petroleum jelly as its flagship product, the company introduced new products like lip balms and lotions.
In the year 1987, Chesebrough-Pond’s was acquired by Unilever, a British consumer goods company. Consequently, Vaseline became a part of Unilever’s portfolio comprising of over 400 brands.
Current Status
Vaseline is currently offering an extensive range of skincare products like intensive care lotions for dry skin, lip therapy for chapped lips, gels, body butters, moisturizers and more. The company is also integrating natural ingredients like aloe vera and cocoa butter to address consumer demands. However, petroleum jelly remains the core offering of Vaseline.
Recently, Vaseline launched new products like Cloud Soft Light Moisturizer for markets like India and Transition body lotion for transgender women. The brand’s major market is North America, followed by Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa.
Future Outlook
Vaseline is expected to increase its product portfolio containing natural ingredients like Vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and others. Moreover, the company is also likely to increase its inclusive skin care products for specific skin types. Vaseline is going to strengthen its presence on e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and others to boost sales.