The McBride Era

The continuing success of McBride to the present day

Timeline

1993 BP decides to sell the Consumer Products Division
BP decides to sell its Consumer Products Division in 1993 to concentrate on core business. The business is purchased by a group of institutional investors led by Lehman Bros and Legal and Ventures, and fronted by Lord Sheppard of Didgemere and Mike Handley.

1994 McBride Ltd established
McBride Ltd is established to build on the goodwill attached to the McBride name.

1995 Arco Iris acquired in Spain and McBride plc floated on London Stock Exchange
Arco Iris in Spain and the retail washing powder business of Albright and Wilson Ltd are acquired prior to flotation. McBride plc floated in July 1995.

1995 – 1998 European expansion
McBride's geographic and product breadth expand through organic growth and acquisitions. Acquisition's during this period included Grada in Holland, Problanc, Sodichlor and Vitherm in France.

1998 McBride moves into Poland
Geographic expansion of our manufacturing capability outside the EU commenced in 1998 with the acquisition of 85% of Intersilesia Sp Z.o.o. in Southern Poland. The opening of sales offices in Hungary and the Czech Republic followed this.

Later the same year the acquisition of Globol Chemicals (UK) Ltd provided the group with access to controlled release air care technology.

1999 McBride acquires 80% of Wrafton Laboratories
Gaining 80% of Wrafton Laboratories in 1999 provided McBride with an entry into the rapidly growing over-the-counter medicines field. In the same year, our 50/50 joint venture with Nichol Beauty products, in the formation of Aerosol Products Ltd, created the UK's second largest independent filler of aerosol products.

2001 Liquid laundry sachets launched
McBride plc becomes the first company to launch soluble liquid laundry detergent sachets in Europe under the name Brio Actipods beating the major multinational manufacturers.

In June 2001 McBride announced the disposal of its 92.5% share in Wrafton Laboratories Ltd to Perrigo Corp of America in order to concentrate on its core household and personal care businesses.

Later in the year saw the UK launch of the repackaged Surcare Brand and website.

2004 Announcement of closure of Breda & I&I facility in Estaimpuis, first national TV ad-campaign for Surcare
In 2004 McBride announced the closure of its Breda factory in The Netherlands and the transfer of production to other sites in the McBride Group. The company also stopped the manufacture of I&I (Industrial and Institutional) Products at the Estaimpuis site and the conversion of the facility to a modern household cleaner production unit.

In September 2004 McBride purchased the Joint Venture partners equity share in Aerosol Products Limited.

The year saw another first for McBride with national TV advertising of Surcare in the UK.

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