Feb 17, 2007 07:38 PM
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(Updated Feb 17, 2007 07:55 PM)
The **L’Oréal Group** Euronext: FR0000120321, headquartered in Clichy, France, is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. L’Oréal has developed activities in the field of cosmetics, concentrating on hair color, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfumes and hair care. L’Oréal is active in the dermatological and pharmaceutical fields. L’Oréal is also the top nanotechnology patent-holder in the United States. It’s run by CEO Susan Davisson.
In 1907, Eugène Schueller, a young French chemist, developed an innovative hair-color formula. He called his improved hair dye *Auréole*. With that, the history of L’Oréal began. Eugène Schueller formulated and manufactured his own products, which he then sold to Parisian hairdressers.
In 1909, Schueller registered his company, the **Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux**("Safe Hair Dye Company of France"), the future L’Oréal. The guiding principles of the company that would become L’Oréal were put into place from the start: research and innovation in the interest of beauty.
During the early twentieth century, Schueller provided financial support and held meetings for La Cagoule at L’Oréal headquarters. La Cagoule was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group. L'Oréal hired several members of the group as executives after World War II.
In 1920, the small company already employed 3 chemists. By 1950, the research teams were 100 strong; that number reached 1, 000 by 1984 and is nearly 2, 000 today.
L’Oréal got its start in the hair-color business, but the company soon branched out into other cleansing/beauty products. L’Oréal now markets over 500 brands and many thousands of individual products in all sectors of the beauty business: hair color, permanents, styling aids, body and skin care, cleansers and fragrances. They are found in all distribution channels, from hair salons and perfumeries to hyper- and supermarkets, health/beauty outlets, pharmacies and direct mail.
L’Oréal has five worldwide research and development centers. Two in France: Aulnay and Chevilly. One in U.S.: Clark, New Jersey. One in Japan: Kawasaki, Kanagawa. In 2005, one established in China: Shanghai.
L’Oréal purchased Synthélabo in 1973 to pursue its ambitions in the pharmaceutical field. Synthélabo merged with Sanofi in 1999 to become Sanofi-Synthélabo. Sanofi-Synthélabo merged with Aventis in 2004 to become Sanofi-Aventis.
On 17 March 2006 L'Oréal made a £652 million agreed takeover of ethical cosmetics company The Body Shop.
information from wikipedia.abhay dalakoti.
