Soap  - what next?

A quick look at three British brands of toilet soap revealed some surprising facts.  

Brand 1 ... Dove - Made in Germany

Brand 2 ... Palmolive - Made in Turkey

Brand 3 ... Pears - Made in India

Pears Soap, in particular, has an interesting history.  Pears transparent soap is a brand of soap first produced and sold in 1789 by Andrew Pears at a factory just off Oxford Street in London, England. It was the world's first transparent (actually translucent) soap. Under the stewardship of Thomas J. Barratt, A. & F. Pears Ltd. company initiated a number of innovations in sales and marketing. According to Unilever records, Pears Soap was the world's first registered brand and is therefore the world's oldest continuously existing brand.   As stated above, it is now manufactured in India.

Shown above is one of Pears well known advertisements that appeared on many railways station boards as well as magazines and newspapers.    It is alleged that the formula has now been changed and that it does not last for so long.   This and a smaller tablet is no doubt a sign of the times when the profit motive comes first and foremost.

How about Dove?  Dove is a personal care brand owned by Unilever. Dove products are manufactured in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and United States. NOTE that mainland UK is not listed.

The big question is: What is happening to our manufacturing base in this country?

As everyone knows, it is not just soap.   How can this country thrive and prosper when we have to import goods, and basic items like soap, the way we are doing?    We feel sure that some readers will have something to say about this - and certainly Landra Whitehouse in her Neath Guardian series.

Next time you buy something have a look to see where it is made - you may be in for more surprises.