Playtex Products

Playtex Products is a leading manufacturer and distributor of personal care and consumer products. Approximately 98% of the Company's net sales were from products that are #1 or #2 in their respective markets.

The company's brands include Playtex, Banana Boat and Wet Ones. The company sold off its Woolite brand in November 2004 and the smaller brands including Baby Magic, Mr. Bubble, Ogilvie, Binaca, Dorothy Gray, Dentax, Tek, Tussy, Chubs, and Better Off in November 2005.

The Company has concentrated three core businesses:

- Feminine Care products lead the plastic applicator and deodorant tampon categories, and is number two overall, with Playtex Gentle Glide tampons. Playtex also sells Beyond tampons, a premium cardboard applicator product.
- Skin Care segment includes Banana Boat sun care, Wet Ones hand and face wipes and Playtex Gloves. The Banana Boat brand offers a full spectrum of sun block, tanning, sunless tanning, and after-sun products. Banana Boat is the #2 brand overall and the #1 brand in after-sun care. Wet Ones and Playtex Gloves are both leaders in their markets.
- Infant Care features Playtex infant feeding products (disposable feeding system, reusable hard bottles and spill-proof cups), pacifiers, the Diaper Genie diaper disposal system, the Embrace Breast Pump and the Hip Hammock child carrier.

Playtex headquarters are in Westport, CT. The company also operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Dover, DE; Sidney and Streetsboro, OH; and Arnprior and Malton, Canada. A research and development facility is located in Allendale, NJ.

Net sales for 2006 were $636 million, down from $644 million the previous year, and net income was $32. 5 million.

History

Playtex was founded in 1932 as the "International Latex Corporation" in Rochester, NY, selling latex products under the "Playtex" name.
In 1954, the Stanley Warner Corporation purchased a controlling interest in the Company and rapidly expanded the Company's operations. In 1960, the Company introduced its first infant feeding product and in 1968, the Playtex plastic applicator tampon.

In 1975, the Company was sold to Esmark, a diversified holding company.

In 1984, Esmark was purchased by the Beatrice Companies who, in turn, were purchased a year later by the investment firm of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

In December 1986, a group of Company executives, together with Drexel Burnham Lambert, bought the Company in a leveraged buyout and named the newly private organization Playtex Holdings.

In January 1994, the Company went public as Playtex Products, Inc. Since then, Playtex has acquired many leading consumer brands, including Banana Boat, Wet Ones, Mr. Bubble, Ogilvie, Binaca, Diaper Genie and Baby Magic.

Updated April 8, 2007

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