Sara Lee terminated Godrej’s License to Sell Kiwi Shoe Care &Kiwi Kleen Brands

Sara Lee Corporation of US on 23 March 2011 terminated Godrej group's license to sell Kiwi shoe care and Kiwi Kleen brands in India and Sri Lanka, with effect from 3 April 2011. Sara Lee will pay Godrej Household Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Godrej Consumer Products a consideration of Rs 177 crore for the termination. The termination resulted in transfer of rights for Kiwi to SC Johnson. SC Johnson acquired the shoe care business from Sara Lee in early 2011 for $328 million. Godrej had given up the licence to sell Ambi Pur in India to P&G when Ambi Pur was sold. Sara Lee had also sold off another part of its personal care business to Unilever.

This agreement is expected to help Godrej become more focused on core categories in line with Godrej’s 3 by 3 strategy-presences in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America through 3 core categories-personal wash, hair care and home care.

Godrej is among the leading fast-moving consumer goods companies with brands like Cinthol, Good Knight, Fairglow, Protekt and Snuggy. The group acquisition of Rapidol and Kinky in South Africa have given it leading positions in the fast growing South African ethnic hair care market. It also recently acquired Megasari Group, a leading household care company in Indonesia and Issue Group and Argencos, two leading hair colorant companies in Argentina.