Henkel celebrates 150 years of global operations

Henkel anniversary Fritz Henkel consumer goods adhesive technology Persil

Henkel is celebrating its 150th anniversary, marking its evolution from a small detergent manufacturer founded by Fritz Henkel in Aachen in 1876 to a global leader in consumer goods and industrial products.

Headquartered in Düsseldorf, the company has reached significant milestones, including the 1907 launch of the Persil detergent and the expansion into adhesives in the 1920s. Major strategic moves include the 2008 acquisition of US-based National Starch for approximately 3.7 billion euros and the 1997 acquisition of Loctite. In 2023, Henkel reorganized its brand business into a new Consumer Brands division, a move that involved approximately 3,500 global job cuts.

Today, Henkel operates in more than 70 countries with roughly 47,000 employees. Its diverse portfolio includes well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf, Taft, Pril, and Loctite. The company reported an annual turnover of 20.5 billion euros in 2025.

Entities

Aachen · Düsseldorf · Fritz Henkel · Henkel · National Starch

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Henkel acquired US adhesive producer National Starch from Akzo Nobel in 2008 for approximately 3.7 billion euros. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fritz Henkel founded Henkel & Cie in Aachen on September 26, 1876, alongside two partners. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · siol.net
[○ 1 SOURCE] Henkel reported an annual turnover of 20.5 billion euros in 2025. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The company's first product was a universal silicate-based detergent. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Henkel is a global company with approximately 47,000 employees operating in more than 70 countries. siol.net
[● 3 SOURCES] The merger of the brand business into the Consumer Brands division in 2023 resulted in approximately 3,500 job cuts worldwide. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de
[● 4 SOURCES] The detergent brand Persil was launched in 1907. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · siol.net