Shaklee Corporation is a privately-held maker and distributor of environmentally-friendly cleaning products, nutritional supplements, skin care products and filtration products. The company is based in Pleasanton, California with operations in Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Taiwan. The company sells its products through a multi-level marketing network and claims a combined base of 750,000 "members" (customers) and distributors.
Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, a San Francisco chiropractor, first began selling "Shaklee's Vitalized Minerals" in 1915. In 1956, Dr. Shaklee founded the Shaklee Corporation with his two sons to manufacture nutritional supplements. Starting in the 1960s, Shaklee began marketing organic, biodegradeable cleaning products and has continually emphasized "natural" and environmentally-friendly products in its marketing messages.
The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the late 1970s. In 1989, it was acquired by the Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Company of Japan. Yamanouchi was already partnering with Shaklee in Japan and acted as a "white knight" in helping the company fend off a hostile takeover bid by investor Irwin L. Jacobs. In 2004, Yamanouchi sold the company to an American billionaire (Roger Barnett) for $310 million. In 2008, CEO & Chairman of the Board Roger Barnett announced a new president of Shaklee Corporation, Bradford Richardson.
Notes and references
References
- "Eco-Socialites Make Cleaning Green a Priority", New York Times, 22 April 2007
- "Company News; Japanese Drug Company To Sell 4 Units, Including Shaklee", New York Times, 3 April 2004
- "James Whittam, 49, President And Chief of Shaklee Companies", New York Times, 3 May 1999
- "Japan Drug Maker to Buy Shaklee", New York Times, 15 March 1989
- "Company News; Shaklee to Sell Japanese Stake", New York Times, 3 February 1989
- "Company News; Shaklee to Buy RJR Nabisco Unit", New York Times, 4 November 1986
- Dr. Forrest Shaklee; Founded Corporation", New York Times, 17 December 1985
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